WELCOME TO KENYA

Wow! I am back in Kenya.  It has been really good to see dear friends again after being away for over a year. Today is Sunday and Jimmy Tangai and I were up early and off to visit a church here in Nairobi, Ridgeways Baptist Church. Unfortunately, the pastor, Elijah Wanje, Jimmy's cousin, was not there as he is in the U.S. but we enjoyed our time with the members.  Wonderful time of worship.

Today has been a much needed rest day and just waiting on the Crossings Community Church team to arrive this evening in Nairobi.  8 men from Crossings have all been trained on the water well drilling technique and will be involved in training 20 pastors from throughout Kenya that are coming in to Eldoret tomorrow morning.  We will fly from Nairobi to Eldoret early in the morning and come together with the pastors at the Reformed Church Guest House where we will be staying during our 9 day stay in Eldoret.

I do have a couple of important prayer requests today.  Brother Joseph Ogwang, our Kenyan Director for C-CADE received word that two family members passed away while we were in Malawi.  We decided last night that he should return to his home in Migori to take care of the final burial on Monday.  So, Joseph left last night at midnight and traveled home to be with the family today and tomorrow.  Joseph plans to join us in Eldoret early Tuesday morning as we begin the training.  Joseph has been involved in all of the wells that C-CADE has drilled since 2010 and is a great teacher.  Pray for his family during the burial services tomorrow for a cousin and the son of another cousin as well as for Joseph as he will then take a bus ride to Eldoret to join us on Tuesday.

The other big request is for the 20 pastors that are traveling today and tonight to be there tomorrow morning and for us as we fly to Eldoret in the morning. 

This is going to be a wonderful time together and I look forward to sharing with you the day-to-day events of what God is doing here in Kenya.

Have a blessed Sunday.

P.S. Below are some pictures from Malawi.  The first picture is of Pastor Gary Jamar, Pastor from Morris Memorial Baptist Church in Ada and founder of Malawi Orphan Ministries. 

The picture of the little girl sitting next to me is one of only hundreds of children in the area that were intrigued with what we were doing.  She stood out for several reasons because of her bright smile and eagerness to help.  We finally had a chance to get the kids involved when bricks were needed and you see her in another picture carrying bricks on her head.  So cute!!

Pics & Videos from Malawi

WHAT AN AWESOME WEEK

There is so much to share with you but due to limited internet connection, I just wanted to post this week has been an awesome week.  I don't know that I have ever experienced a trip like this one before.  We traveled for about 2 hours east of Llongwe on Sunday and arrived at the orphanage property that is stunningly beautiful.  Brother Gary's orphan ministry has almost 16 acres that sits right on Lake Malawi, the third largest lake in Africa.  Beautiful sandy beach with a picture like what it probably looked like on the banks of the Jordan river back in Jesus' day - fishermen boats sitting on the water just off shore, children running all over the beach, cattle and goats walking across the sand.  Picture perfect setting with great sun rises. 

We started training Monday morning with 8 area pastors and by Wednesday afternoon we had already completed our first well that was 36 feet deep with 18 1/2 feet of water in the borehole.  By Thursday morning, the well was almost clear and the ladies began using the water for cooking and washing dishes.  That is a first for us to begin using the well so quickly after drilling.  It is a great well and will be such a wonderful part of the orphanage.  Currently, they are feeding over 200 children every day, one meal.  We had a great time being a part of that work, as well.

On Thursday, we started Well# 2 and pretty much left it to the pastors to do the whole thing and they had made great effort and reached water level by the end of the day.  They were back at it early this morning and by the time we left, they were putting in the casing and expecting to complet that well by tomorrow.  It was the most amazing thing!  These pastors worked so hard and were so committed to the effort.  We left knowing that they would be able to carry on the work with 2 other wells already planned to be done in the few weeks.

We are heading to Kenya tomorrow morning and I'll be able to post pictures and more details once we get there. 

Stay tuned.

Greetings from Llongwe, Malawi

Hello Everyone,

We finally made it to Llongwe about 1pm on Friday and were met by Pastor Akim and Martha Chirwa and their son Titu and Pastor Owen Mkangawire.   Akim is one of Pastor Gary’s trustees for his ministry.  What a delight they have been. We spent much of today in their home as Kemp and Joseph Ogwang went to pick up the additional supplies we need to do the well; i.e. PVC pipe, steel pipe for tripod, and 1” square tubing.  Unfortunately, they did not have what all was needed and it won’t be available until next week.  So, we will travel about 1 ½ hours east of Llongwe tomorrow and start drilling as soon as tomorrow afternoon.  Someone will come back on Tuesday to pick up the remaining items needed.

Brother Joseph serves as the Kenyan Director of C-CADE and has done more than 13 wells since we started C-CADE back in 2010. I had him come to Malawi to help train the team.  Joseph is an awesome Man of God. 

Pastor Gary’s ministry is making a difference in many children’s lives.  Currently, the ministry is serving 400 meals a day to children that might not otherwise receive a decent meal for days. 

The weather is wonderful.  Warm with a real nice constant breeze blowing. 

Thanks for all of the prayers and words of encouragement.  Keep them coming.

AFRICA, HERE WE COME

The time has finally arrived.  We have been anxiously awaiting this time as we venture into new African territory for this ministry as well as return to a place that has deeply impacted this ministry over the last 3 years, Kenya.  Tomorrow, September 19th, I will be leaving and traveling with Pastor Gary Jamar from Ada, Oklahoma to his orphanage in Malawi Africa (www.malawikids.com) where we will be drilling a water well there on their property along Lake Malawi.  Kemp and Kim Ward from Water4 will be traveling with us, as well.  We are so excited about this opportunity.  What is really great is that the money for the well was collected by the third grade classes at Plaza Tower Elementary School in the Moore Oklahoma School district.  Teacher Mary Jane Crosby had been teaching the children in her class about water and invited me last year to come and share about our drilling wells around the world.  They were so excited and set out to raise money to drill a well.  The kids were able to raise over $750 to help drill this well in Malawi.  How exciting is that!!!

After we finish in Malawi, Kemp, Kim and myself will travel to Kenya where we will meet up with a team of 8 men lead by Michael Milligan of Crossings Community Church in Oklahoma City in Nairobi and then travel to the city of Eldoret.  We have invited 20 pastors from throughout Kenya to come to Eldoret to be trained on the water well drilling process as well as some theological training.  The purpose is so the pastors can return to their geographical area of Kenya and be able to help their area with water wells.  In other words, they will bring the people in their area fresh clean water and be able to share to Living Water of Jesus Christ with the lost.  What a wonderful way to show the love of Christ while providing them with the necessity of good clean water.

Brother Sam Kirui with Barnabas Leadership Ministries (www.barnabasleadership.org ) will also be on this trip.  What an amazing man of God.  Sam is from Eldoret area of Kenya and his leadership will be so helpful as we minister to the 20 pastors coming for the training.

Please be in prayer for the C-CADE team, Brother Gary, the Crossings team, Sam, Kemp and Kim, and the pastors as we gather together over the next 3 1/2 weeks.  Also, be praying for the lost souls that will be reached by the efforts of this trip. 

I do plan to do periodic updates of this blog while on this trip.  So, be sure and check back occasionally to see what God is doing in Malawi and Kenya.

Thank you for your continued prayers and support.  I am most humbled.

Brad