Prayer Requests


By Guest Contributor Mandi

I was asked to provide specific prayer requests for this trip.  Let me do that by explaining some of the situations for this year, ranging from the trivial to the very serious.  I know that many have prayed for this trip already and I am so grateful for that!  I can tell this trip has been covered in prayer by the ways that God has moved and blessed. 

*I have a very lengthy to-do list that has been growing instead of shrinking over the last month.  I need focus to knock out lots of projects instead of half-way completing several of them.  I have many messages to prepare.  I still need to plan the VBS games as well.  Thankfully, I was given some materials/supplies/lessons that have alleviated much work in this area.  Last year I did not have time to prepare here before leaving which meant I spent much time over there doing it.  This year I will have more time while there for other things by getting this done now.

*So far I think I am on target for my two checked bags not to exceed 50.5 pounds and my carry-on to be less than 26 pounds.  I have a fear of getting to the airport and finding the luggage to be over the weight limits! 

*We need God’s protection from all harm that could come to us.  I am very aware of many things that could go wrong!  We need travel mercies on the planes and roads.  There are lots of insect and animal dangers.  Then there is harm from others.  Esther mentioned to me that even though women keep their money in a *closely personal* and *safe* location, there are very skilled thieves who can rob you without your awareness.  She told me she was robbed once, to which I responded, “Well, at least you didn’t tell me it was 20 times or I might reconsider!” 

*We will exchange our dollars for Kenya shillings.  The exchange rate fluctuates somewhat significantly on a daily basis.  Some exchanged money several times but I did only once because I didn’t have a lot to begin with!  When my money was exchanged the rate was 91.7.  That means that for my one dollar, I got 91.7 shillings which is like 92 pennies for one dollar.  I know the rate was as high as 94-something while I was over there.  I heard that right now the rate is depressingly low—around 80.  Please pray for the best possible exchange rate!  If the rate is low when I get there, I will probably wait awhile to exchange more but then someone has to get to a bank to make the exchange.  To us, a few pennies are no big deal at all, but over there where things tend to be cheaper, a lot can be purchased with those shillings.  I bought a bag of about 50 pieces of bubble gum for 90 shillings (I didn’t think they were very good, but it was a treat to many kids!) which would cost $2-4 here.  A glass bottle of soda is 25 shillings, but of course it is not 64 oz. like here.  The portions and quality may not be what they are in America, but the cost makes it bearable!  

*Last year, the Kisavi’s had a car that seated all five of us to use to go to regional churches.  The roads are so bad there that the car was really damaged as a result.  They decided to sell the car and will try to get one that can withstand the roads.  They NEED a car because they regularly have to drive one hour to Kitui to buy supplies for the orphanage.  But this year, as of right now, there is no car for us.  We can find transportation for hire (as in, maybe a seat on a bus or a motor bike taxi) but I think if we have to do that, we are not going to get to as many places as we went last year.  It will be very disappointing if we cannot travel to these churches.  Last year, 18 people from three of the churches we visited accepted Christ. 

Kenta, the Japanese young man who went last year, went to Kitui to buy a used motor bike to bless a pastor with it.  That one cost about $600.  I asked Esther if a motor bike bought in Nairobi might be cheaper and she thinks so.  So I have been praying to find a motor bike to purchase for $200 and for the money to buy it.  We can fit two people on a motor bike so with two bikes we should be able to do a lot while there.  One other problem is that Esther is scared of riding them!  When I mentioned the motor bike idea and my dad overhead, he told me that the Christian Motorcyclists Association raises money to provide bikes to missionaries.  I contacted them and got an application that I have given to Theo and Esther.  They, along with the other 11 pastors in the region, could greatly benefit from that ministry!

*There are Christian organizations whose presence in Mbitini would be such a blessing.  It would be so wonderful if the Samaritan’s Purse Christmas shoeboxes could be delivered to the orphanage, that we could show Campus Crusade for Christ’s Jesus Film which already exists in the Kikamba language to the community, that the CMA could provide motor bikes or bicycles to area pastors, and that the Kenya Bible Society could share the Kikamba Bible master so that Bearing Precious Seed could provide Kikamba Bibles to pastors for free.  I have made some calls already but others are on my never-ending to-do list.  I have tried hard, but not succeeded, in getting Bibles provided or even to order them in bulk to save money.  There is still time for these things to be worked out!

*Shopping in Nairobi will be a new experience for me since I missed out on it last year which is a long and upsetting story.  I did not get to see the prices of things and what all is available.  It is much better to buy supplies over there instead of take up luggage weight but I don’t know exactly which things are better to get here.  Example:  last year I took four rolls of TP with me that I bought here for a dollar.  If I wait to buy it there, will I be able to get it as cheaply?  I have no idea if the items I am planning to buy there will be available where we will shop.

*I desperately need a good attitude when frustrations come.  I majorly failed with this last year to the point where I had to make a public apology.  Last year was a constant test of my ability to be flexible.  I think this year may be an even bigger test because I have had lots of time to plan and go over the way I think everything should happen.  When it does not go as I imagine, I will need lots of prayer to go with the flow!  I need to exhibit the Fruits of the Spirit from Galatians 5.

*There are many older teens and adults who are skilled with English enough to translate our messages and conversations.  The issues that we run into can be their availability (among chores and school and such) and their voices holding out.  Three of our main translators last year lost their voices as well as me.  Along similar lines is the problem of us all getting sick to the point of losing our voices!

*The whole reason for this trip is to tell the lost about God’s gift of salvation through Jesus because we are all sinners in need of a Savior.  I will mainly do this when speaking at the Women’s Conference, Sunday school, VBS, orphanage services (every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night), and local churches.  We will also go out into neighborhoods and deliver food/clothes and share the gospel.  I am praying that God will make a way for those that need to hear to come to the services or for us to go to them and that they are ready to accept Christ. 

*A side benefit of this trip is to be able to provide for the needs of the people.  These people desperately need the Word of God.  I was really shocked last year at how deprived of God’s Word they are.  Even the Pastors didn’t even have complete Bibles (that need was met last year).  The horn of Africa famine has affected this region as well.  Famines cause prices to rise which leads to all kinds of issues. 

*This year will be the second time that VBS has been done in this community.  Esther did it once years ago with about 60 in attendance and those children who participated are now grown.  That said, the implication is that the kids won’t know what to expect and I will be winging it myself!  We are preparing for about 200 kids to attend.  If we have more, then we may not have enough supplies.  The plan is to provide a snack each day which we also could run out of.  I am a very logistics-minded person and when I think through how this will go, I get a bit scared!

*The Kisavis provide for about 60 orphans by relying on the Lord’s provision.  Esther knew 11 years ago that she needed to take care of the hurting children in their area and she trusted God for help.  If you would like to pray for each child, their names are listed to the right of the page.  That list is from last year and I will provide a new list when I return.   The older children are just now of the age where they are ready to leave the orphanage and they need to determine their life path, get more education/training, and find jobs or ways of supporting themselves. 

*I also have an unspoken request about the trip.  I am really in need of answers from the Lord about something very important.  Please pray that I would do what the Lord wants through trusting him.

Prayer requests summarized:

·         My preparations
·         Safety from all harm and sickness
·         Wisdom regarding purchase decisions
·         Best exchange rate possible
·         To easily partner with helpful organizations
·         Availability of supplies and low costs
·         Ability to purchase a $200 motor bike
·         Flexibility with a good attitude
·         Translators’ voices
·         Fruitful ministry
·         VBS
·         Providing Bibles
·         Orphanage: provision for food, clothes, shoes, school supplies, medical care, livestock/crops, mosquito nets
·         Unspoken request
·         Community: rain, wells, hear the gospel, food during famine
·         Pastors: food and clothing for their families, serve God faithfully, for decent church buildings and furniture, to have sources of income like selling goats

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