Click here to read the latest update from The Losch’s

Click here to read the Steiger’s latest update

Click here to read the Payne’s July 2010 Report

dear family and friends,

i am using a german computer loaned to me from an iranian camper…very different keyboard…

one muslin lady repented last night. she had been witnessed to by several people here at the camp and before camp. she lives in a refugee camp. slava bogu.

i have had great conversations with 3 out of the 5 church planters so far who are here and have brought some of their people. ron and mary mariani will stay for 2 more weeks working with these men in their areas. pray about that…street evangelism and visiting refugee camps.

everything is going well. wed and fri we have our normal schedule and thursday we will have an excursion to a local castle.

thank you for prayers. many are considering the truth of the gospel.

do not know how to use the caps of this computer.

love to all,

jim

Praise the Lord, Praise His Holy Name, Praise the Lord

Amen

Click here to read The Hardeman’s August Prayer Update

Good Morning Praying Team,

I noticed this message from Jim as I was about to go to bed and thought you should have it as soon as possible. By the time most of us get up on Friday morning the final event in Petrozavodsk will be underway or finish. Thank and praise God for the “divine appointments” provided and the people who showed interest. Please pray immediately for the Lord to guide and bless the team in their last interactions with the people they met, loved, played with, taught sports and shared the gospel with. Pray that we will leave open hearts for the continued ministry of the new church planter when he arrives.

DEAR FAMILY AND FRIENDS,

THANK YOU FOR YOUR FAITHFUL PRAYER SUPPORT. WE FEEL IT AND WE NEED IT. HOPEFULLY THE WEATHER WILL GET COOLER ON FRIDAY. THIS IS THE HOTEST weather IN DECADES HERE.

DURING THE CHILDREN’S MIN THIS MORNING, I WITNESSED TO 4 MORE PEOPLE. THEY WERE KIND ENOUGH THE LISTEN BUT NO COMMITTMENTS.I USUALLY SPEND 30-40 MIN WITH EACH PERSON GETTING TO KNOW THEM AND THEN WAITING FOR THE RIGHT MOMENT TO TRANSITION TO THE GOSPEL.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE: ERINA – 74 GRANDMA, NASTYA – YOUNG MOTHER WHO DOESN’T KNOW IF THERE IS A GOD, LENA – YOUNG MOTHER, NINA – GRANDMA, INFLUENCED BY THE SALVATION ARMY 15 YRS AGO…NO ASSURANCE OF SALVATION.

TOMORROW IS OUR LAST DAY. WE WILL DO CHILDREN’S MIN IN MORNING AND HAVE A BBQ NEAR THE RIVER CLOSE TO OUR HOUSE FOR THOSE WE HAVE TALKED TO THIS WEEK. PRAY ABOUT THIS.

I HAVE SPENT LOTS OF TIME WITH JULIAN, THE CHURCH PLANTER WHO IS LEAVING PETRO. HE NEEDS HEALING AND ENCOURAGEMENT. I LOVE HIM ALOT! PRAY THAT GOD WOULD LEAD HIM TO A MINISTRY MORE FITTING FOR HIS GIFTS.

THIS IS MY LAST REPORT FROM PETRO. THE TEAM OF 17 HAS BEEN JUST GREAT. EVERYONE HAS WORKED HARD!

SAT. Penelope AND I FLY TO PRAGUE AND PAUL AND DUSTIN FLY TO LONDON, OVERNIGHT THERE AND GET HOME ON SUNDAY NIGHT…THEN TO HUME LAKE TO BE WITH OUR ABF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.

YOUR PRAYERS HAVE REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE. PLEASE CONTINUE!!!

LOVE YOU ALL,

JIM

I’ll keep you posted as more travel related news arrives.

IHS

Peter

Good Morning Team,

Another good ministry day in Petro:

DEAR FAMILY AND FRIENDS,

DURING THE KIDS PROGRAM THIS MORNING, I SHARED THE GOSPEL WITH THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE – Valera (55-man), Nadya (37 mother of 2…not married), Lydia – grandma, Luba – mother of nadya. I clearly shared the gospel with them several times and gave each one a tract. Nadya asked for my email address and I gave her my card. Please Pray hard!!! that the seed of the gospel will take root.

Three young peope we met last year from here have decided to go to the Extreme youth camp next week with 5 of our Americans and Sasha’s church (St. Petersburg). Penelope and I will be in Prague for this camp. One boy who Sasha Kurmaev led to Christ in Pskov last week will also attend. I realize you cannot remember all of the Sashas and others that we work with. But, God does. Your simple prayers make this ministry effective. Thank you!!!

Love to all,

Jim

Jim requests special prayer for his eyesight. I has been extremely difficult for him to see in the mornings. By early afternoon his sight is a bit better. Jim has teaching scheduled for morning times at the Czech camp next week. Please pray for improvement now for this important ministry and that Jim’s scheduled cornea transplant, 26 Aug or 2 Sep, will actually take place successfully this time.

Have a blessed day, IHS

Peter

Click here to read The Stieger’s July Report

There is much opportunity for prayer in the next 3-4 weeks. A detailed itinerary of travel and ministry is attached for your use.

A quick travel summary follows for your convenience:

14-17 July – The team headed for Pskov departs tomorrow for rendezvous in St. Petersburg, and then on to Pskov.

24-25 July – The group from Phoenix travels and rendezvous in St. Petersburg with the other Petrozavodsk team members.*

30 -31 July – Others travel from various locations to Prague and rendezvous there with the rest of the Czech team.*

08-10 August – The remaining team members travel home.

* Some will be traveling home during these travel periods as well.

Please pray for safe and on-time travel for each of those involved in this important kingdom building activity.

Some of you will remember my team communication service from Jim & Barbara’s last trip. I will continue to provide news and needs updates over the entire span of this outreach effort. If you have any messages you would like to send back to the teams, or additional prayer insights, please send them to me and I will pass them on to Jim and the team members.

The Teams are very grateful for your continual prayer support and thank God for each of you as important members of the team itself. May God richly bless you for your time with Him on their behalf.

In His Service (IHS)

Peter

Click here to read The Payne’s (our missionaries in Panama) June 2010 Report

It is now about midnight and we have tucked our missionary team in bed and finished the Lira “Jesus Festival” with multitudes who came to Christ tonight … maybe 250 people. Jose Zayas, our evangelist, asked me to give the invitation tonight at the festival. We had another “Fresh Catch” tonight and a great celebration that has lasted into the night until now … and must be still going on in Heaven.

After the crusade, I prayed with Joseph who was captured by the LRA rebels several years ago and forced to kill as a child soldier. Now he is a student at the Uganda Tech University where we held the crusade here in Lira. Joseph is now part of the “Lord’s Righteous Army” by faith in Jesus. Edmond and Maxwell responded to the invitation tonight and then came for prayer because they were being tormented by evil spirits. The truth set them free tonight!

Our team expanded to about 50 with the Ugandan Good News Soccer Club who played an exhibition soccer match each day this week in the afternoon at the stadium where we held the festival-crusade. They won every match except one, and drew a very large crowd each day who also stayed for the “Jesus Festival” each night. Then another small missionary team of American teenagers also joined our team here in Lira, and so I trained them in evangelism and we’ve been fishing all over Lira with much fruit. Pray now for the churches we are working with here in Lira to carefully follow up each new believer for fruit that remains.

Today was a very unique day for me. Bishop Tom and Martin insisted that I come with them for an important meeting with all the “Faith Community” and religious leaders from the Northern Uganda region, who just happened to be convening in Lira today, Saturday, July 3rd for the purpose of discovering how the “Faith Community” can impact government in the peace process. They are really fearing that their will be violence in 2011 during their National and local elections. The M.P.’s (Members of Parliment) came from Kampala to meet with the “Who’s Who” of religious leaders in Northern Uganda about 100 in all.

At first, I thought it would simply be a lot of “British Parlimentary Protocol” … introductions … pomp and ceremony … which it was at first. But then they began to share the struggles of a corrupt government and violent elections and their desire for a free and fair elections and democracy. The whole day was broadcast live on radio. The chairman asked me to share from an American perspective as an international participant. I asked the Lord for wisdom, and gave them a speech about “Democracy & Religious Freedom In America.”

The M.P.’s and religious leaders (including the Catholic Arch Bishop, Anglican Priests, and even the Muslim Imam) wanted to know more about how the “Faith Community” influences the government in America. So, I gave them some ideas about having “Voter Registration” in the churches, publishing incumbant voting records, interviewing candidates on all moral issues and then educating the people as well as holding the politicians accountable by publishing the results in the newspapers, churches, and by radio.

The whole experience turned out to be one of those “God Things.” Here they are struggling with freedom and democracy and the role of church and state … just like America did 234 years ago tomorrow ~ July 4, 1776. I felt like a “Time Traveler” sent to them from the future to help them shape the democratic process in North Uganda. It was humbling, took all day and included three “Official Tea Times.” There were lots of introductions of “Lords & Ladies” … and Bishops and Your Worshipfulness … but in the end … some stiking resolutions were agreed upon, recorded, and sent to the Ugandan Parliment for ratification by this newly formed “Uganda Inter-Religious Coalition.”

In the meantime, our missionary team has been going around destroying the works of darkness, robbing hell, and declaring His Glory in the schools, prisions, hospitals, and marketplace of Lira. Slowly by slowly, soul by soul, God is changing Uganda one person at a time and bringing healing and hope in Jesus Name! I told the religious gathering and government leaders, that at the end of the day, the real power is not in the political process as important as this is, but in the blood of the cross. I also took the opportunity to apologize on behalf of the American Church and Faith Community for America’s unglodly intervention in government by financially propping up puppet leaders who have not represented the best interests of Uganda and also for our Presidents and Vice Presidents wicked counsel to Uganda regarding Abortion and Homosexuality issues.

Their response to these apologies was surprise and tears. They said to me later, “You have touched our heart. We have never heard anyone speak this way, but we are living with the reality of what American money and influences have done to our country. In Uganda we are now a land of beggars and thieves because of the NGO’s, subsidies, and handouts. We do not need a hand out, we need a hand up to determine our own destinies.”

So, it was quite a historic day here in North Uganda just one day before our “American Birthday” back home ~ July 4th. The timing couldn’t have been better. In some small way, God used me to participate in the manifest destiny of this Nothern Uganda region known as the “Nazereth of the North” where they have suffered so much and been marginalized by the rest of the country in the South. I was able to relate to their North ~ South scism in Uganda and told them about our struggles between North and South during the Civil war.

Can anything good come out of Nazereth? Oh yes! It has and it will again by the grace and mercies of the Lord when God’s people who are called by His Name, humble themselves and pray, and turn from their wicked ways … then God will hear from Heaven … and will heal this land … through His one and only Son ~ Jesus Christ of Nazereth.

Now, Randy, Aggrey, and myself will teach a week in the “School of Theology” (Biblical Counseling, Marriage & Family, and Advanced Homiletics) and then conduct the Commencement and of the first graduating class of 2010 at Africa Hope Bible Institute next Saturday, July 10th. Pray for the students to find their school fees in order to graduate next Saturday. It looks like their will be 14-15 graduates. We started on September 7, 2009 with 17 students.

Africa Renewal Ministries in Kampala, have asked me and Randy if we would extend our mission to conduct a “Pastors Conference” in Ruknjiri, Uganda near the Congo/Rwanda border on our way out of the country next week. We are praying about this as their has been Congolese Rebel activity in this area recently. Please pray about this plan with us. It would not change our flight home at this point, but would be a stretch in many ways and invlove some rather intense traveling conditions and timing.

So, once again, thanks for sending “Africa Hope!” No one but God could have planned this day or this mission. I am glad to be walking with God in the works preordained and created for me to walk in before one of them came to be ~ Ephesians 2:10. Thank you for walking with me in these pathways of peace.

Your Missionary In Africa,

Gil ~ II Chronicles 7:14

PRAISE THE LORD!
Now our team is in Lira, Uganda ready to launch another “Jesus Festival” here with the Lira Pastors Fellowship whom I have worked with for the past 3 years. Pray for a great impact for the Kingdom and another “Harvest of Souls.” They have never used sports to reach people for Christ, but they are open to this idea now because they heard what just happened in Soroti.
Today is Tuesday, June 29th, at 10Pm in Lira, Uganda. (We are 10 hours ahead of the West Coast USA). Today, I preached the Gospel in a womens’ prison and a men’s prison. 34 women came to Christ including several Muslims, and 74 men repented and trusted the Lord when we dropped the “Gospel Bomb” (The Big Evangecube) in the middle of the prison yard!
My young evangelist friend, Aggrey Juma, traveled all the way from Kenya to join our team. Together we have experienced the presence and power of the Lord of the Harvest on this first day of outreach in Lira. Please pray for our team to stay strong and healthy. We have recently been attacked with fevers and sore throats on the team. Pray for a strong team, good health for the team and a “Harvest of Souls.” Together with your help in prayer and the blessed Holy Spirit … we are OVERCOMERS together with Jesus Christ! Our young team of missionaries are full of the joy of the Lord after an incredible harvest of souls.

Thanks for praying and sending “Africa Hope!” To God be the Glory in Jesus Name!

Your Partner In The Gospel ~ Africa,

Gil ~ II Corinthians 2:14

Click here to read The Stieger’s (our missionaries in Prague/Czech Republic) June report

Click here to read The Hardeman’s (our missionaries in the Philippines) June Newsletter

Click here to read an update from the Liljegren’s

Click here to read the Payne’s (our missionaries in Panama) May 2010 report.

Click here to read the May update from the Gomez’ in Guatemala

Click here to view recent pictures of Jim’s ministry in Russia/Czech Republic

Click here to read the Payne’s (our Missionaries in Panama) April Report.

Click here to read the May update from The Hardeman’s in the Philippines

Click here to read the April update from the Gomez’ in Guatemala

Click here to read an update from The Faul’s in Brazil

Click here to read the March update from The Payne’s in Panama

What Winning Looks Like

I was driving through the intersection on my way to pick up something from the grocery store when two cars drove past me, horns blaring and heads hung out the window yelling at me.

My first reaction was irritation that they would dare make a statement about my driving, and then I remembered… the Olympic gold hockey game. How could I forget? Just thirty minutes earlier Canada had pulled off a victory over their arch-rival the United States, and though I had already forgotten, many Canadians were celebrating.

The Olympic Games are all about winning. Yes I know they’re also supposed to be about sportsmanship, but when you see silver medal winners looking like they’ve just been diagnosed with a terminal disease you know that the bottom line is winning. To many, coming second is simply being the first place loser.

Connections
Winning in God’s World looks entirely different. Winning is not about how I look when the race is over. It’s not about me standing on the highest step on the podium. It’s not about my gain at the expense of another’s loss. Winning in God’s economy is actually about losing. Don’t skip too quickly over that thought. Think about it. Winning is about losing everything to gain Christ and to help others gain Him too. Paul said: “I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I

Jesus… I have lost all things… that I may gain Christ.” (Philippians 3:8). To Timothy he wrote: “I endure everything for the sake of the elect that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.”

Imagine an Olympic athlete enduring the rigors of training for four grueling years in order to help someone else obtain the gold! Yet that is exactly what you have been called to. Yes, you. Not just Paul. Not just missionaries and pastors. All of us. Not only am I called to lose everything in my own pursuit of knowing or gaining Christ, I am called to lose it so that others may know Him.

Never before have the doors been so wide open for believers from secular professions to live internationally and make a kingdom impact. But it will mean losing something – a comfortable lifestyle, proximity to family, an early retirement, or much more.

Ben, a CrossWorld worker in Asia is losing his life for people like a young woman we’ll call “Shandra”. He writes: “Her chart says eighteen years old. Never met her before today. She looks younger, maybe fourteen. Her nearly emaciated body is hidden under her bundle of clothing. Physical examination and a battery of lab tests reveal she has multiple sexually transmitted infections along with HIV and tuberculosis. She cries as I list her diagnoses. I share with her that all is not lost. ‘Don’t give up hope’, I tell her. ‘Until now you have placed your hope in people who have used you. Right now you are separated from God, but the Lord Jesus has provided a way to be cleansed of the real disease – SIN.

“After praying with her she is assisted home with medications and a date to follow-up – a date I fear she might not live to see. But on her second follow-up date she was holding my hand with both of hers with a grip that did not want to let go. Her smile was so beautiful. Her eyes clearly shine a change that encourages my heart.”

Ben and Shandra’s story is one of many that are being written right now all over the world – stories of dying so that others might live, of losing so that others might gain. No one over here will honk their horns in celebration of such victories. But those are the real gold medal performances – the kind I want to have a part in.

What about you? What have you lost lately in the pursuit of knowing Jesus and helping others to know Him? We need people right now to join our teams in some of the darkest, most difficult places in the world. Would you pray with Jerusha and me for workers to go? Would you pray about going yourself? Really. I’m serious.

On The Move
Our family has lived in Mississauga for nearly thirteen years – by far the longest we’ve lived anywhere as a family. Our time here is quickly coming to a close as we prepare to move to Kansas City this July in our capacity as the leader of CrossWorld. Here are a few things you can pray for in addition to the big request I already gave you in the preceding paragraph.

1. Direction for our two oldest children, Joel and Jessica who don’t know yet where they will call “home” or what God has next for them in terms of careers.

2. God’s provision of the right place for us to live in Kansas City. We don’t just want a house, we want a mission field.

3. God’s provision of two key staff members for our team in K.C. – a Communications Director, and a Vice-President.

4. For spiritually receptive hearts among neighbors here in Mississauga – one last chance to point them to Jesus.

Thanks so much for praying. Keep your eye on the real gold.

Yours in the grace of our Lord Jesus,

Dale and Jerusha Losch & family

Click here to read the April update from the Hardeman’s in the Philippines

In all of these churches I either preached or shared some encouragement from God’s Word based on time.  My mom had opportunity to encourage them as well.  At most of these churches they feed us some type of meal and give us gifts.  Their hospitality and love for the Lord is amazing.  They worship so passionately!  Also, at each of these churches we gave each of the Pastor’s one of the packets you helped me with and a foodbasket.  They appreciate both so much.  On Thursday we hed home so please pray for a safe trip.   It’s been a very good opportunity to serve here in Kenya.  The gospel has gone forth and believers have been encourged both spiritually and physically.  Thanks for being a part church family by sending me, supporting me and praying for me. 

Blessings,

Greg

Blessings,

Greg

I’m writing to let you know that after 35 hours for me and about 25 for my Mom, we have arrived safely in Nairobi, Kenya.  The flights went well with the exception of the start of our flight from New York to Dubai.  It was very turbulent but praise the Lord we arrived safely and “pretty” smoothly.  Tomorrow we will be visiting a Bible college with a Pastor.  Then Thursday off to Samburu and ministry in the village and along the way with a couple of churches.  I will try to write as often as I can.  Thank you all for your prayers. 

Blessings,  Pastor Greg

Click here to read the Steiger’s (our missionaries in the Czech Republic) March report.

Greetings in the Name of Our Wonderful Lord!!

On behalf of Hugo and Miriam Gomez, and the entire GCE Board of Directors, I want to personally share the awesome news of Gods providence in the purchase of the CHE Training Center property.

Thanks to your generous giving and prayer, we are happy to report that all funds have been raised for the final payment on the Training Center property! Praise be to the God who meets all of our needs according to His riches in glory!! He has proven again that His riches can never be depleted, and that He is truly behind the work going on in Central America.

With the land purchase in the final stages of completion, we can now look forward to building and improving the property which will provide training and leadership for CHE workers around the world!

Thank you so much for your giving. May God richly bless you for your generosity and faithfulness to His Kingdom.

Blessings in Christ,

John Rohde,
On behalf of the entire GCE Leadership

Click here to read the Steiger’s (our Missionaries in the Czech Republic) February Report

Click here to read the Payne’s (our Missionaries in Panama) February Report

Click here to read the update from the Hardeman’s in the Philippines

To read our 2010 January Prayer & Praise Report in PDF format please
Click Here:

Click here to read The Payne’s (our missionaries in Panama) January 2010 Report.

Click here to read the update from the Hardeman’s in the Philippines

Click here to see The Payne’s (our missionaries in Panama) December 2009 report.

Hugo Gomez – Guatemala

This has been a rollercoaster year for Hugo and Miriam because they have left the mission agency they had been with for many years to start their own. Continue to pray for the Gomez family and the work in Central/South America.

To read our 2009 December Prayer & Praise Report in PDF format please
Click: http://www.hcjb.cz/newsletter/eppr/E-PPR-28-2009-12.pdf

Click here to read the update from the Hardeman’s in the Philippines.

Click here  to see The Payne’s (our missionaries in Panama) November 2009 report.

Dear Prayer Partners:

Greetings from Gil, Aggrey, James & Choice in Lamu, Kenya.

Thanks for sending “Africa Hope” in Jesus Name! His Name is becoming more and more famous on the Island of Lamu and the surrounding Islands in the Indian Ocean. I am traveling with our “Missionary Band” made up of Aggrey Juma, and James & Choice Mahine along with the Island pastors and evangelists of Lamu. The response to the Gospel has been wonderful, but of course not without opposition. Please keep praying ~ The Lord ALWAYS leads in VICTORY ~ II Corinthians 2:14.

Here is the field report:

From Nairobi we traveled to Mombassa where we ministered two days in Mishomoroni Village at the Tanzama Church (To See Christ) with Pastor Benjamin. Amazing thing: Mishomoroni is the dumpsite for Mombassa, much like Dandora is the dumpsite for Nairobi. God is raising up princes and princes from the dunghill (dump = Gehenna = Hell) …I Samuel 2:8. Jesus and Paul went straight to the Synagogues to preach. My missionary strategy when I come into town is to go straight to the dump!?! It is not hard to find because it is always on fire. The smoke forever ascends from this place we call the “Third World” … the garbage dump of castaways. I believe the THIRD WORLD consists of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit! It is where He specializes in bringing life out of death and separating garbage from gold. It is where His Son was crucified.

The Tanzama Church has been severely persecuted by the Muslims. Their Church roof was torn off, and the church looted. Adam, one of the Muslim terrorists returned the “Tamborine” stolen from the church because it kept “Making Music” and talking to him. He came to Christ and now is a very powerful teacher of Bible. He testified that as a child, when he went to the Mosque to ask the Imam about Jesus, the Imam asked to shake his hand. When Adam reached out, the Imam broke his hand. There is no grace or love in Islam.

I purchased a Qur’an in Mombassa from some Muslims and then showed them the passages which spoke of Jesus’ life, death, resurrection and Lordship. Some were very upset, but several listened including a young man from Seattle, Washington who promised to read the Bible and compare notes. I have learned much on this mission about Islam. “Isa” is not Jesus. Allah has no son. Islam is the doctrine of demons to be sure. There is coming a day when Islam shall be “Waslam.”

Mohammed’s great grandson is buried on the Island of Lamu. Lamu is a stronghold of Islam of course, but these strongholds are falling fast. Aggrey & I picked up James & Choice in Tanna River on our way to Lamu. James & Choice are missionaries to the Tanna River Tribes. The river is infested with crocodiles and the people are infested with demons and witchcraft. James & Choice are clearing the land and building their home and church. Their missionary income is 1,000 Ksh ($15) per month! Pray for them. They are the real thing! Young, married only one year, and already seeing fruit in the field.

We arrived in Lamu and are staying with Kenyan missionaries Stephen and Jennifer Thuku. The first thing that happened at Lamu is that my watch band broke and my wrist watch just fell on the ground. I think the Lord was speaking to me about “Island Time” on Lamu Island! This of course suits me just fine. When I preach I don’t use a watch anyway, I use a calendar. So we met with the Lamu Church Leaders and conducted an “Evangelistic Equipping Conference” on Saturday, and then preached in various churches on Sunday. I preached at the “Church On the Mountain” in Lamu. This mountain according to the “Ledgend of Lamu” covers the remains of a dreadful village of Arab Slave Traders and Sodomites. One day many years ago, a great storm came from the sea and picked up a small neighboring island and deposited it upon this wicked village. Now there is a church perched on top of this mountain of judgment.

Monday morning we spent in prayer and then walked across the island to the native village of Mararani. These are the native people of Lamu who live on top of the sand dunes on the remote side of the island. Our band of 14 Missionaries walked about 7 miles across the sand and up the dunes in blazing 110+ degree heat. My feet are still blistered from the experience. We should have ridden donkeys or camels. On Lamu there are no motorized vehicles, just donkeys or camels. I am walking an average of at least 8 miles every day … good for the body, hard on the sole!

We went directly to the village well and replenished our water and recovered in the shade of palm trees. Then our team split up and went two by two, hut to hut. The Lord led us to Elizabeth and Regina. Regina was sick with fever. We prayed over her, shared the Gospel, and three family members trusted Christ! Two days later, when we returned, Regina was fully recovered and singing praise to God. 42 people in Mararani Village were born again today!

On Tuesday, our missionary band set sail for the Island of Manda. Manda is a very large island with no fresh water. The people are dependant upon rain water and water tanks. We walked at least 12 miles today into the bush and thick jungle. We came to Salid & Cecilia’s home and preached the Gospel. This Muslim family and one neighbor trusted Christ and we left a solar powered radio tuned to Christian radio for them to broadcast the Good News. We walked on until we came to an isolated hut where we knocked on the door.

A young woman by the name of Fraha (Happiness) opened the door. She stood there with her young son looking anything but happy. Fraha said that she had just buried her second child who was still born two days ago. She told us her whole body and soul were in great pain. Then Fraha told us about a dream she had. In her dream, she was told to worship God alone. She replied that she did not know God. The angel said God would send messengers to tell her. So, here we were! We told Fraha the Good News, and she received the news with gladness. The ladies in our missionary band ministered to her and prayed over her until her pain left. Fraha was now crying tears of joy and gladness. This was a real Acts 10 missionary experience. Blessed is he who comes in the Name of the Lord!

We continued visiting the Manda Island people all day long. During our return voyage the Kenya Navy intercepted ten Somali Pirates in a Somalian Pirate vessel on the other side of the Manda. The pirates were armed to the teeth with rocket launchers, grenades, and AK47s. They were hunting for ransom vessels in these waters when they were caught. We took some pictures of the pirates being chained together and taken away for a “short drop and a sudden stop” as one of the soldiers described their fate. They were mostly young men. We prayed for them but couldn’t get close enough to them for any other ministry.

On Wednesday, we were invited by several Christian Massai leaders on Lamu to come and preach the Gospel to their tribal group. Most of these Massai men were from Amboselli, Kenya and had come to stay at Lamu to sell their hand crafts at the “Massai Market” on the island. We preached the Gospel to them as a group, and 17 Massai men gave their lives to Christ including Seremon the Chief of the Massai! We spent the day with the Massai training the Christians in evangelism and equipping them with Evangecubes and Gospel Tracts. They have since been with us all week long for the revival meetings in the churches and also in the street witnessing in Lamu. The Lamu churches and pastors have welcomed them into their families praise the Name of the Living God!

Thursday, we set sail for the fishing village of Matondoni. It was an entirely Muslim fishing village with no known Christian living there … until today. Yusrah was our host and guide. She showed us the entire village, school, mosque, and market. We quietly prayer-walked the entire village and claimed the school and the soil and souls of Matondoni for Jesus Christ. When we left at the end of the day, a young man by the name of Mohammed approached our group and under serious conviction and opened his heart to Jesus with great joy! The seed has been sown in Mohammed, and in Matondoni. Pray now that it grows and multiplies in a harvest of righteousness and peace for this village which is lost in despair and darkness.

We set sail for Kipungani on the other side of the island, but the winds picked up and seas began to run against us and Captain Hassaan decided to turn back to Lamu. So we ran with the wind and the rains and sailed quicly back all the way back to Lamu town and port.

Friday, we returned to Mararani to follow up and preach the Gospel again to the natives on the far side of the island living in the sand dunes. This time, we sailed to Shella Beach and hiked a short hike to Mararani Village instead of trudging across the desert for 7 miles! It is a good thing we returned. After we left on Monday, the witchdoctors announced to the whole village the next day that we were devil worshippers!? I would have thought if this were true, that perhaps he would be happy, but he was not. The 40+ new Christians defended us by telling him that we were sent from God and would return. So we came with bibles and Christian follow-up materials for discipleship with the local Christian leaders and made disciples. Another 31 people repented in Mararani today including the leading distiller of beer and whiskey! So now, the drinks are on the house for everyone, but now the people are being filled with the Spirit and the Word of God instead of dying of alchoholism which Mararani is famous for. Praise the Lord!

Today, Saturday, we went to the hospital and preached the Gospel and prayed over the sick. The hospital has been under lock-down for a Cholera epidemic for the past several weeks. There was a good response at the hospital among the Christians who were healed and blessed, however, most of the Muslims in the hospital did not want prayer for fear of association with the “Israelites.” This is what they call the Christians in Lamu. The Muslims have burned down several Christian churches here on Lamu including the A.I.C. (Africa Inland Church) where I conducted the evangelism training with the pastors and churches last Satuday. In fact this church has been burnt down twice! Each time it was rebuilt Pastor Ezekiel told us.

Just recently the “Church on the Mountain” where I preached last Sunday was attacked by a mob of angry Muslims. They were angry because the Christian churches were growing and multiplying on the island while their Mosques are empty and decaying. I met with Steven the district commissioner of Lamu who went and settled the dispute by telling the Muslims there is freedom to worship in Kenya wherever and whoever you want to worship. Such is the Muslim stronghold here along the coastlands of Kenya, Somalia and the Indian Ocean. But praise God these strongholds are crumbling in Jesus Name!

Sunday, is the “Jesus Festival” on Lamu. Today there were baptisms, weddings, anniversaries, salvation, a missionary commissioning, and child dedication. WE HAD CHURCH TODAY IN LAMU! Right in the middle of preaching the Word today in our Jesus Festival, people came and told us we were too loud and that we should all be quiet. I told them to take up there complaint with the local Muslim Imams who broadcast their indigestion over loudspeakers all day and night from their Mosques. Then Pastor Thuku jumped up and grabbed the mic and shouted to them: “If we are silent, the very rocks will cry out. We are praising the Name of the Living God with all our heart and soul and strength … why don’t join us?” Then he led the entire Festival in glorious praise and worship and the whole place erupted with praise and worship and dancing which went on throughout the night unrelenting in praise of Jesus!

Pastor Daniel, said to me today that this has been the most amazing week in his life and ministry on Lamu. He said that people from the surrounding villages have been coming by the church and asking how they can be saved!?! I know this is in response to your prayers and faith in calling down the mercies of God unto salvation for the Island of Lamu during this “Jesus Festival” this past week.

It is blazing hot in Lamu … we have been jumping into the Indian Ocean every chance we get to cool off … but of course the water is quite warm too and we come out rather “salty” and sweaty again in 2 minutes. We take 2 or 3 showers a day if possible and another in the middle of the night in order to sleep. Of course, according to my hosts, I am not eating enough food. (Whenever an Africa sits down to eat … it is serious because often they do not know when they will eat again). So Choice scolded me again the other day and said, “You just don’t know how to eat! Here in Africa we eat until our food says “I’m Sorry!” Choice Words!

Please pray for journey’s mercies as we travel North to Uganda by foot, donkey, boat and bus for the next three days, Monday ~ Wednesday!

Merry Christmas!

Your Missionary In Africa ~ <’)))><

Gil ~ Isaiah 9:2,6,7

To read our 2009 November Prayer Letter in PDF format please
click: http://www.hcjb.cz/newsletter/sup0911.pdf

Click here to see Vince Payne’s (our missionary to Panama) October 2009 report.

Dear Partners In The Gospel:

Greetings from your Missionary Ambassador in Kenya!

It is with THANKSGIVING and JOY that I write to you in Jesus Name. It is becoming more obvious to me each day that this is the Lord’s ministry of “Healing & Hope.” No one else could arrange for the “Divine Appointments” which Jesus arranges each day. No one else opens doors and hearts, eyes and ears, cities and nations but the King of Glory Himself. So open up you Ancient Doors. Open wide you Gates … that the King of Glory may come in!

Very few Christians in Africa have Bibles. This is a sad and terrible fact. From my surveys and experience in Africa for the past eight years, I would say less than 15% of the believers in churches own a Bible. How then can they grow and obey the Lord’s Prayer: “Give us this Day our daily bread?” They can’t. Even the bellman at my hotel who had a decent wage paying job, did not have his own Bible. He carried my bags up 3 flights of stairs on his back. By the time we got to my room, it was clear that Samuel was a Christian young man. When he discovered I was a missionary, he immediately asked me, do you have a bible for me? I questioned him as to why he could afford to eat bread and yet did not have the bread of life himself. Samuel then poured out his sad story. Orphaned, abandoned, abused, cursed by his relatives and tribal witchdoctor, living on the streets of Nairobi, and trying to take care of his little orphan sister and brother to feed them … leaves nothing from his $4/Day salary for anything extra like clothes, shoes, school fees, books, or even a bible. I didn’t have a bible with me that he could read because was from Cote D’Voir (The Ivory Coast) and could only read French and speak English. So there we were, in my hotel room on the third floor. We prayed together for “Bread From Heaven” for Samuel. Then I noticed on the bureau … a Gideons Hotel Bible. Much good it would do Samuel in English. However, upon opening it, it was an interlinear English/French Bible!? Who could have known? God provides everything we need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus ~ Phil.4:19. Aggrey and I are now purchasing supplies and Swahili Bibles for the next phase of our mission on the Kenya Coast.

THANK YOU FOR PRAYING FOR DIVINE APPOINTMENTS & GOD’S PROVISION!

Aggrey Graduated from the Nairobi Bible College with honors and his Bible Degree. It was a grand occaision which was also shared by his roomate and good friend David Randa Bunde who also graduated and is now serving as an assistant Pastor in the Korogocho Slum outside of Nairobi. It was also a reunion with Pastor Peter and Margaret of the All Nations Church in Dandora. After the graduation celebration, we went to the Mamba Village where we took a ride on a camel named “Brahma.” This was the tallest camel I have ever seen. It would have taken a 12 foot ladder just reach his back, but of course, Brahma knelt down on the ground and first Aggrey and then Susan Nyambura took a ride through the Mamba Village. The Mamba Village is also a Crocidile Farm along with various sorts of African wildlife like Giraffe, Ostrichs, and exotic birds and animals. The Village is arranged like the continent of Africa, with signs painted at the entrance of each section saying: Nigeria, Egypt, Morocco, Congo, Mozambique, et cetera. Brahma the Camel gave these two Kenyans a great ride throughout Africa so to speak. Then Brahma knelt down and I mounted him. When he stood up, I was almost above the tree line in the village. The view was magnificent. He started walking and then suddenly reared up on his back legs and bellowing loudly. Now I was twice as high as before and hanging on to the wooden saddle for dear life. The Camel’s owner was now pulling on his halter with a rope and beating him with a cane. Brahma paid no attention and kept on bucking and bellowing. It was a short and wild ride for me. I held on until the owner and village helpers surrounded Brahma and pulled him (and me) back down to the ground. Brahma continued to talk very loudly and spitting. Pastor Thomas Momanyi observed the situation and said, “Brother Gil, it is obvious that Brahma the Camel was very willing to give the the two Kenyans a ride throughout all of Africa here today in this village. However, when the camel discovered that you were a Missionary from America, he revolted because he thought you were going to make him walk all the way back to America!?”

Kitengela, just one hour South of Nairobi, in the Rift Valley in Massai Land is where the Jesus Ambassadors Church and Gil Harder Academy are located. We arrived together with Pastor Thomas Momanyi for a “Pre-Christmas Celebration” with all the children and teachers at school. Everyone recieved a gift. The highlights were the “Beannie Babies” and “Africa Hope” buttons! We delivered additional parts of the Betty Lukens Flanelgraph which we brought over last year to the school for their “Story Board” as they call the flannelgraph. We then taught and celebrated the “Christmas Story” all together ~ Everyone participated! After several days of teaching, and preaching at the church on Sunday, we departed and went to visit Caroline Sarah Agwoma and her “Africa Hope” ministries in Dandora.

Dandora Slum is home to one of the largest dumps in the world. Nairobi trucks all of it’s garbage to Dandora where the vultures are so big they call them the “Dandora Ostriches.” Pastor Thomas, Aggrey, and myself met with Caroline Sarah and Susan at her small home in Dandora. We refreshed them in the Lord materially and spiritually and prayed over their lives and ministry here with the widows and orphans in Dandora. Caroline is now ministering to over 50 young Kenyan orphan boys and girls who live on and around the dump. She also ministers to 10-15 widows most of whom are HIV positive. Caroline does not have enough money to even afford lamp oil for her small lantern to light the darkness in her 8′X14′ home. But out of her poverty, has welled up rich generocity, so that she is ministering “Healing & Hope” to all of these orphans and widows!? How does she do it? She doesn’t … God does. We sat in the dark and listened as Caroline gave glory to God and told us about how she is able to provide HIV retrovial drugs for all of her widows each week and meals for the orphans each week by God’s grace. However, there are some times that there just is no food. Then the children scrounge for good at the dump with the vultures or beg for food from person to person and house to house.

Caroline then recounted for us the recent story of Esther. Esther is nine years old and one of Carolines “Africa Hope” children. For several weeks last month, there was not much food for the children, so Esther went begging. In the process of begging for food, someone took advantage of this orphan, an Esther was raped in Dandora. Caroline called for Aggrey who came and helped. They took Esther to the hospital for treatment, testing, and care. Thankfully, at this point she has not contracted any STD’s but of course the trauma is overwhelming. Caroline cried and cried as she recounted Esthers story and felt so responsible for this tradgedy saying that if only she had provided the food, Esther would not have been begging.

We all reassurred her of God’s care and providence and prayed together for the provision of more “Africa Hope” in Jesus Name. I blessed Caroline once again for the fact that she herself, as a minister of Jesus Christ is “Africa Hope.” One of Carolines prominent features in her home and ministry is of course: “The Gospel Handgrenades ~ Evangecubes” She leads all of these orphans and widows to Christ and trains them to witness by using the “Evangecubes” in her ministry. So we replennished her supplies, blessed her in Jesus Name, and walked out into the hot night air of Danora weeping and rejoicing at the same time.

Tonight, Aggrey and I board a bus for Mombassa and Lamu on the Indian Ocean. My time is now up in this cybercafe and the speed of this machine is slower than the trickles of sweat pouring down my face. So, I end this report with this request:

PLEASE PRAY FOR: CAROLINE SARAH AND AFRICA HOPE MINISTRIES IN DANDORA. PLEASE ALSO PRAY FOR AGGREY AND MYSELF AS HEAD FOR MOMBASSA (EVEN HOTTER) JOURNEYS MERCIES OF COURSE, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY: WE ARE GOING TO CONDUCT A BIBLE CONFERENCE AND EVANGELISTIC CRUSADES ON THE ISLAND OF LAMU AND THE SURROUNDING ISLANDS. THE ENTIRE SOMALIAN AND KENYAN COASTLINE IS A MUSLIM STRONGHOLD. ONE OF THE ISLANDS AROUND LAMU IS FARSA WHICH IS THE HOME OF THE ALKAIDA TERRORISTS. IT IS THE BIRTHPLACE AND STONGHOLD OF AL KABOB AND ALKAIDA. THEREFORE, I ASK THAT YOU PRAY FOR THE LORD JESUS TO OPEN WIDE THE GATES OF THESE CITIES AND ISLANDS, HEARTS AND SOULS, TO RECEIVE THE KING OF GLORY!

THANK YOU FOR SENDING “AFRICA HOPE” IN JESUS NAME!

YOUR PARTNERS IN THE GOSPEL ~ II CORINTHIANS 2:14
GIL HARDER, THOMAS & MARY MOMANYI, AGGREY JUMA, JAMES & CHOICE
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P.S. I have relayed your greetings to your African Brothers & Sisters whom you have come to know. Please also receive their greetings and gratitude for sending healing and help in Jesus Name! Because of Jesus, have a BLESSED THANKSGIVING!