What's "your" style?

The first Saturday in March we held a DISC workshop for the youth of St. Catherine's Children's Home. A fun time was had by all as the youth discovered their individual learning and behavior styles.

Though we are all uniquely created by God with different aspects of temperament and personality the DISC profile provides insight to the 4 basic behavior styles. The letters DISC represent:

D=Decisive, direct    

I=Influencing, social    

S= Steady, patient    

C=Cautious, contemplative

The workshop helped each young person gain a better understanding of their behavior and gave them practical tips on how to have more meaningful interactions with friends and peers that have different personality types. 

Twyla Brickman led the workshop and did a great job explaining the
different personality types! 

We had several volunteers to work with the kids...here I'm helping Rodgers & John.

The kids had fun with the questions and pointing out each others habits!

 Please check out Joanna Kelleys blog at the link below for more pictures and details of the day!

http://joanna5447.blogspot.com   DISC workshop for the St. Catherine's kids

"Women of Destiny"....

"Women of Destiny" is the title of the Bible study we are facilitating for ladies in Kibera slum the first quarter of 2013. This is the third, and most ambitious, Bible study we've done with this group of ladies... and we are so excited to join God in the work He is already doing in their lives! 

Keeping the group intentionally small we are able to connect with each lady on both a personal and spiritual level as we pray, worship and share the Word in the context of relationship.  These foundational components of the class guide us as we explore the unique story God is writing for each lady. 

Divided into three main themes the study reveals God's presence in our "past", "present" and "future";

Where You've Come From...is not who you are!

Who You Are.....is not what you do!

Where You Are Going...is up to you!

Kenya is a culture that values story telling and like a good story our Destiny is a journey with twist, turns and surprises. Filled with characters, adventures, joys, tragedies, circumstances of our making and those beyond our control....... we get to play a part in the outcome!

We are currently reflecting on the "life story" we have each entered into. Our family history, circumstances of our birth and other events form the backdrop of our lives. Exploring events from the early years of our life, we can learn how certain thought patterns and beliefs were formed, see how God was at work and discover places of woundedness that need healing. 

Please be in prayer for each of the ladies, and the New Hope facilitators, as we walk this journey. This is the first study of this type the ladies have ever done and we know that the enemy would prefer to keep them ignorant of his schemes and block the path to their destiny. Most of them have experienced serious trauma in their lives and the stories of parental loss, attempted murder, domestic violence and sexual abuse are heartbreaking but not hope-ending. 

I would like to ask you to join us in covering this study in prayer and to even consider praying for one, or all, of the ladies individually. Specifically pray for God's wisdom to guide our every step...for His love to be firmly established in each heart...for revelation & understanding......for breaking of strongholds & healing....for protection....for truth & freedom....for wholeness & complete restoration....for clear vision & strength to follow His leading...and for His resurrection power to bring life & hope to the desolate areas!

The ladies names are as follows:

Rose                           Dorothy                           Everline

Rachel                        Dorothy                           Joyce

Sarah                         Elida                                Leni

Serah                         Elphine                            Linet

Catherine                   Emily                          

Nancy                         Lucy

Stella                          Susan

Sophy                         Patricia

        

Thank you for joining us in this journey!

Investments with dividends!

The past few years have undoubtedly been a time of uncertainty when it comes to investments. The stock market, housing market, money markets and other markets have seen roller coaster ups and downs that caused even the most seasoned investor to rethink strategies.

There are however still worthwhile investments that pay unprecedented dividends without the risk of loss.
"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal." Matthew 6:19-20

I love how Randy Alcorn puts it in his book titled "Money, Possessions and Eternity"; 

“Christians are God's delivery people, through whom he does his giving to a needy world. We are conduits of God's grace to others. Our eternal investment portfolio should be full of the most strategic kingdom-building projects to which we can disburse God's funds.” 

Where can these investments be found? How do we store up these "treasures in heaven" and what are "strategic kingdom-building projects"?

In this global society one need not look far, for they are all around us. The neighbor that lost their job and needs help paying an electric bill, the family member with past due medical bills, the lonely man or woman waiting for a visitor in the nursing home, the Salvation Army, Doctors Without Borders, Feed the Children, Navigators, missionaries from your church, the orphan living in a third world country unable to afford basic education, the African village in need of clean drinking water and mosquito nets.

The dividends paid by these types of investments go beyond your bank account and what the human eye can see. Yet it's the cash on hand that gets our attention and consumes our daily thoughts. The future is unknown, so we fret about how big our nest egg is and how much we have saved for retirement.  We ignore the one sure thing "you can't take it with you when you go" and ignore the truth that you can "send it on ahead"! 

“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself? Luke 12:20

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose."Jim Elliot 

Each of us can do something today. There is no investment too small and there is no time like the present to start thinking with eternity in mind.  I encourage you to prayerfully consider how God wants you to invest in your future and then "just do it". That simple.

New Hope's investment portfolio;

• Mentoring Kenya's youth
• Bible studies in the slums
• Financial assistance for needy Primary and High School students
• Medical missions
• Discipleship programs
• Food for children in need

Happy New Year!

"In His name the nations will put their hope." Matthew 12:21

With the beginning of a New Year our hearts reflect with gratitude upon the many things God did in 2012 and look forward to all that He is going to do in 2013!

As a ministry with discipleship at its core, we continue to pursue an incarnational lifestyle and believe that 2013 will provide even more opportunities to "make Him known" (Col 1:27) through the interactions we have with the youth and women of Kenya.  

A vital element of our ministry is building trust and establishing meaningful relationships for discipling and mentoring. This requires an investment of time, patience, honesty, compassion and perseverance as well as a willingness to communicate truth and grace. These are the primary tools God has placed in our hands and it is our prayer that He will continue to give us His wisdom and strength in using them for His glory in the New Year!

So what's ahead for 2013? 

Of course we have no way of knowing ALL that God has planned (that's what makes this wonderful LIFE such an adventure!) but we believe that the activities and programs that we began last year will continue and some will expand. 

In January we resume the Kibera Ladies Bible Study that takes place weekly in Kibera slum. We are excited to begin with Joyce Meyer's "Battlefield of the Mind" study. Please be in prayer for these ladies who truly desire to have the mind of Christ and to be the "light" in the community where they live. 

Kibera is the 2nd largest slum in Africa. Home to 1 million people,
it is a place of extreme poverty, rampant crime and disease.

During the last Presidential election, Kibera was a place of flash point violence that resulted in the loss of life and property for many residents. With the next election just around the corner on, March 4th, it is our prayer that the love and hope of Christ, which these ladies have embraced, will have a positive impact on their neighbors and community. 

Ministry with the youth at St. Catherine's Children's Home for Orphans will also continue in 2013. On February 2nd, I (Denise) will begin conducting a monthly discipling/mentoring program.

This program is being implemented through Compassion Ministries, a ministry under  Life Community Church (LCC) where I am a member. We are grateful and excited to be part of this holistic mentorship program and to take the next step in building relationship with these young people! 


From my initial meeting with them last June during the Medical Clinic, to the "Count Me In" youth camp in August and through our my visits to the Orphanage, these kids have displayed a hunger for God's word and a great need for supportive encouragement. Your prayers are appreciated as we give what Pastor Mark terms, a "a hand-up".... not just "a hand-out"!

 

We will also continue to host and be actively involved with the LCC Ladies Life Group. Life Groups are cell groups designed to provide intimate fellowship in a weekly small group setting whereby we encounter Christ together and edify one another.


Prayer, worship and the word are foundational elements of each gathering, as well as sharing one another's burdens and practical ways to implement God's will for our lives.

As members of the Life Group, we are also committed to the individual peer partner relationship each of us has with another member. We meet once a week with our partner for prayer and discipleship. I (Denise) feel especially blessed to have two wonderful partners; Saru & Gladys!

Saru

Gladys

Life Coach Training also resumes in January and I am excited to be starting Module 2 of the one year course. This Module, called Life Focus, concentrates on the "destiny discovering process" and how to develop a "personal values set".  the idea is for me to discover my values and destiny so that I can help others do the same. Most exciting will be actually working with a "client" (she will get free coaching and I will get practice! So it's a win/win situation) over the next 10 weeks and guiding her through the processes. "They" say you're never too learn...and in this case I believe "they" are right!

 Below, Dr. Les Brickman conducts the November Life Coaching Workshop.

 Joanna Kelley graduated from the Life Coach Training in August of 2012 and here she is giving  a testimony of how God used the training in a transformational way in the life of someone she has coached.  We were very encouraged! 

Koinonia" Fellowship. The four synonyms of koinonia in the New Testament are philos, which means “related by love for outward characteristics”; hetairos, meaning a sharer in a common enterprise; sunergos, meaning a fellow-worker; and metochos, a participant. Each of these words denotes a unity which is expressed outwardly. This is true of fellowship but by contrast, fellowship is also an inner unity. 

We will continue to be intentional about building and maintaining "koinania" fellowship with others. This happens through formal and informal means and balancing ministry with shared-life experiences. Bonds forged playing games, sharing meals, picnics in the park, watching a movie, visiting the sick, attending weddings, funerals and baby showers are as important a part of what we do as preaching and Bible Study. 

Many of our koinonia friendships are the result of long term mentoring,discipling or co-ministry relationships that have grown and matured and some are recent divine connections. These are some of the sweetest friendships we can partake of as we encourage one another to finish the race well!

Former students that were discipled from 2007 to 2010.
L-R- Maureen, Collins (kneeling) Bev, Dennis & Tillie

             

Lunch with fellow missionaries Tim & Jenni Thompson

Game night with church members and Pastor Mark

Janene & Julianne Waldrop

Bevaline Ombewa-former student and disciple

Fellow missionaries Amani & Dan

Joanna & I with long time friend Tabitha and her neighbor

Fellow missionary Deb Smith

Fellow missionaries and ministry co-wokers, Don & Paula Nichols

Lunch with fellow missionaries and ministry co-workers,
Les & Twyla Brickman and Joanna Kelley & Alex Wilson

Bible Study in Kibera!

This morning we were privileged to share God's word with some amazing ladies in the Kibera slum.  We met at the Free Pentecostal Church.  They are all either Pastor's wives, Pastors themselves or leaders in their church.  It was a delightful day which began at 9am.  By about 9:30 there were 6 of us...4 of the ladies and Joanna and me.

We decided to arrange the chairs in a circle...so the 'early birds' got to help set the chairs!

This is Rachel...her little boy was a source of entertainment the whole morning but amazingly did NOT disrupt the teaching :)

We all had name badges to get to know each other

 The day began with a time of praise and worship...now there are 5 ladies :)

Registration...I was in charge of that...

Many ladies arrived during the time of singing...when I opened my eyes the numbers had doubled!

 

 Widening the circle to include more ladies...I love the way everyone pitched in to help!

The lesson today was entitled The Red Sea Rules and was based on Exodus 14 & 15

All the ladies had their Bibles...

...and seemed to love reading them...

When it was time to read a passage the ladies were eager to take turns...

First in English and then in Swahili since many of the ladies spoke only limited English...and definitely not American English and DEFINITELY not American English with a southern accent!

 Rachel juggling baby, handout and Bible!

Greeting Joyce who came in a bit late...

Rev 12:11 They triumphed over him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony

This is Patricia diligently taking notes.  We have invited the ladies to use whatever materials we introduce at their home churches.  Our wish is that each one would have a positive impact on the ladies in their circle of influence.

I invited the ladies to share a recent story of how God has worked powerfully in their lives.  Josephine translated for me so that all the ladies could understand the request.

 First Rachel shared...in Swahili

 Here Josephine is translating for me so I could know what Rachel shared...

Stella shared...

There were amazing stories of physical healing, restored relationships, children's school fees being covered (a common need among these women) - how exciting to hear stories of how God works!

We were encouraged by how quickly and easily the ladies were willing to share openly...see the kids in the doorway?

 There is a school on the church grounds and during their break they became quite curious!

 I think Patricia is a pastor!  She loves to share and is quite animated!

Lining up for their morning Uji (porridge) then they were quite active and noisy!  But - we were quite impressed with how minor the interruption was...often when a Mzungu (white person) is around kids can't resist engaging...

Each week we will begin with a time of praise and worship and then sharing a few testimonies to help us focus on God and how great He is...

 We had a total of 20 ladies attend today!  Full capacity as far as we are concerned!

Dorothy read from 1Cor 10:1-6 to set the foundation for the study.  This passage refers to the story covered in Ex 14 when Moses led the children of Israel out of Egypt.

 There are 10 "Red Sea Rules"...Rule #1 "Realize that God means for you to be where you are."

 The scripture passage is Ex 14:1-2, Rom 8:28

No matter where we find ourselves, whatever crisis we may be facing, when we know that it is where God means for us to be then we can more readily trust that He also has a purpose for that time.

 Stella concentrating on the passage...

Making a point...helping the ladies grasp and internalize the concept.

 Rule #2 "Be more concerned for God's glory than for your relief."

 Scripture passage: Ex 14:3-4

 

 

 Rule #3 "Acknowledge your enemy, but keep your eyes on the Lord."

 Scripture passage: Ex 14:5-9

More ladies arrive!

 More room is made as more ladies arrive...

Rule #4 "Pray!"  Scripture passage Ex 14:10  In every testimony shared earlier the ladies had spent time in prayer before experiencing the miracle God wanted to perform...praying is critical!

 Dorothy helping our newest member to find her place...

 Rule #5 "Stay calm and confident, and give God time to work."  Scripture passage: Ex 14:13-14 "Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today."

Demonstrating 'standing firm'

When you are not standing firm, you can be easily knocked over

 Rule #6 "When unsure, just take the next logical step by faith."  Scripture passage Ex 14:15

This may be my personal favorite (although they are all awesome!)...but I feel like that is how we are  living right now...taking the next logical step by faith...and then the next logical step...and then...

 

Rule #7 "Envision God's enveloping presence."  Scripture passage: Ex 14:19-20...the ladies did not know the word enveloping so I explained it and now they have a new word!

Rule #8 "Trust God to deliver in His own unique way."  Scripture passage: Ex 14:21.  God is creative and there is no limit to the number of ways He can work in our lives.

Rule #9 "View your current crisis as a faith builder for the future." Scripture passage: Ex 14:30-31. and Rule #10 "Don't forget to praise Him."  Scripture passage Ex 15 - this is the song of Moses and Miriam...

Then Josephine shared an amazing story of how God restored a relationship between her and a neighbor just this past week, using a neighborhood fire!  During the study she suddenly remembered the story and realized it was a perfect example of a unique way in which God delivered her!

 

 

Then Nancy shared a story ending with "I guess I need to realize that God means for me to be here." - wow!  that was powerful...when she arrived this morning she was looking for a way out of a difficult situation and now she is waiting to see what God will do...in His unique way!

 

Dorothy shared an awesome story of a time when her husband had responded to a challenging situation with wisdom and chose to 'be still and trust God in this'...at the time she was angry and could not understand how he could respond in that way...

But - now she can see that he did, indeed, act with wisdom and now has an awesome illustration of Rule #5!

The ladies with raised hands are ones who attended a two hour teaching in September led by our mutual friend Twyla Brickman...

We ended by standing in a circle as we prayed...for needs shared during the study, for personal needs and just being thankful for our gracious Heavenly Father...

 Serah (pictured above in the hat) closed the meeting in prayer...wow!

 Rachel's little guy conked out and here he is resting his hand on hers...sweet!

Then we all embraced and shared our goodbyes...looking forward to coming back together again next week!

 

 

 

Serah stayed after to share a bit of her story...she runs an orphanage and often does not know where she will find the means to feed and clothe the kids...but God is always faithful to supply her every need.

 Rose is Serah's friend and also shared part of her story; of struggle and triumph.

These ladies (all of them) are truly inspiring!  They have each faced tremendous challenges and have seen the faithfulness of God.  Our faith was built today as we were privileged to spend time in the presence of ones who have faced incredible odds and have overcome in the power of the Lord.