ELDORET, KENYA

Greetings in the name of the Lord,

Wow, it has been an unbelievable trip and apologize for not getting updates posted as planned.  I've had limited time as well as my computer just will not connect to the internet here in the guesthouse we are stay in.  I finally have been able to borrow a modem this evening in order to post a message to everyone. 

It has been over a week since I posted and we arrived in Eldoret last Monday  morning on a flight from Nairobi.  It was quite an eventful flight as one of the passengers on the plane noticed a couple of the Crossings guys had on OSU shirts/caps. He inquired where we were from and he shared that he had taught school at OSU Tech in Okmulgee for 5 years and is not back in Eldoret at Moi University as a professor there.  Eldoret is where he grew up but got his degree from OSU and taught for five years before returning to Kenya.  It was/is an awesome connection.  He was so thrilled to hear our story that he invited us to come to the University to share with the Vice Chancellor and the VP of HR for the school.  It has proven to be a divine connection and the University wants to collaborate with C-CADE on communtity initiatives with water wells.  This is HUGE for C-CADE.  We have already identified 3 projects that will start as early as next week where we will be drilling wells in a very  remote village that we had a chance to visit.  The village has one water source, a pond, that overflows in the wet season which is just coming to a close now.  Over the next month, it will dry up and the 3000 people have no water source for many miles.  They also are needing a church in the area and Pastor Martin Shikuku of Glory Baptist Church in Eldoret and one of our board members has already agreed to bring on a young man in the village to join the new Bible School class the church just started 2 weeks ago.  Glory BC is going to work to help the village establish a church there.  Also, two others in the area want a well drilled.

The meeting at Moi University has also opened up doors for us to have our water tested by the University along with other business opportunities with HIV and Hepatitis tests. 

But, on with why we are here.  We had invited 21 pastors from all over Kenya to come for water well drilling training along with pastoral/theology training.  All 21 pastors were able to be here for the 9 days and you talk about amazing men of God!!  We have been so engulfed in the way these men worship and serve God.  Unbelievable time!  They will be departing tomorrow afternoon for their homes.  Please pray with me for their safety.

Well, we had come to drill 2 wells but was very fortunate to be able to complete 3 wells and to drop pumps in 2 other wells.  Two wells were drilled at two different churches that were desparate for water in their community.  Both wells went extremely well and we were able to finish them in 3 days.  We were also able to drill 1 well at the Eldoret Childrens Rescue Centre that was in dire need of a well on their property.  We were able to drill it close to the administration office and it will be completed tomorrow.  The team from Crossings has been awesome and know this has been an amazing trip for them. 

We have seen lives changed drastically for the better now that they have fresh clean water for the first time.  It is really almost impossible for us Americans to comprehend not have access to clean water.

Saturday was a very day a with a Bible School graduation at Glory Baptist Church where 4 men completed 2 years of biblical studies.  I was blessed by being able to preach, even with only 5 minutes warning.  The graduation was immediately followed by a wedding in which Pastor Michael Milligan from Crossings was able to perform for a couple there in the church.  That only took about 3 hours with all the gala celebration they do for their weddings.  That was followed by the dedication of the well we drilled at the church last year.  It was a really special day.

Sunday was a wonderful day as well.  We had several different churches where several of us had a chance to preach and give testimony.  I preached at Bread of Life Church where we had just drilled one well and topped off another with a pump last week.  It was a great day of celebration and we dedicated the well that afternoon.

Today, the professor from Moi Unversity wanted me to meet a friend that is running for governor of the district and he loves what we are doing to help the people of his district.  He is going to help us with many new projects in the area.  Great connection.

I think I will stop for now as it is very late and need sleep.  So much more to share when time will allow. Thank you for continued pr ayers.  They are so felt by us all.

I will try and post some pictures tomorrow. 

Blessings to you all.