God's Word above all things, 30 Seps 2008

30 Sept 2008

Looking back over the busy past few weeks, this is something that sticks in my mind. The denomination we belong to back in SA has as its motto “God’s Word above all things”. In our travels all over the place, this has been something that has been ringing in our minds and hearts. Grant got rather short notice that he was to attend the Baraza Kuu (”Big meeting”) of Aic. All the districts’ executive members had to be there, so the week of 6 Oct saw us all going to Nairobi. We were so encouraged that proposed changes to the church’s constitution didn’t take place and that God’s Word prevailed that we didn’t even mind the quick down and up trip.

Next came a small breather, a work-holiday the week of 13 Oct, with our friends the Knowles. We spent a week in the rented house in Nanyuki (by Mt Kenya), our new supply base. Grant, Temple and the older kidscompletely redid the kitchen, while Beth and I cooked and cleaned. The evenings there was time for movies, ice cream and nyama choma (burned meat;). We also had some great times in God’s Word, enjoying rich fellowship.

We had hardly arrived in Korr and were still packing out when we were packing in again. The week of 20 Oct saw all of us in Korr (Nick, Lynne, Grant, Loutjie, the kids and our fellow missionaries the Propsts) go off to Kerungu. It was time for our prayer days with other missionaries in the North. This time it took the format of a consultation on how to reach Nomadic peoples. There was a lot of discussion and certainly not agreement on every point:) But we came away being strengthened and so excited about the Word of God! Grant and I were again convicted that what Nothern Kenya needs is God’s Word taught well to some faithful ones, so that they in turn can teach others. While we were in Kerungu, Grant flew back to Korr on the Wed to welcome some folks who were making a video on the Bible school. When he came back, he was also able to meet with the 2 young guys from Australia who will be leading the short term team to Korr in Dec.

This week started out with us Monday 27 Oct, in Ngurunit. We went to fetch Lesantan and Grant had a planning meeting for the Branch youth camp coming up in December. The Australian team will be helping and Grant and some of the other guys are going to teach through the book of Ephesians.

Tomorrow is test time and Lesantan has been studying hard for it. Galatians is all done and so is the study on Leadership. It seems that the tests are wonderful times for review and we are praying that God will hide His Word in Lesantan’s heart.

WILL YOU FOLLOW US

This is to inform you that we are moving our blog to a new site. Since we are members of Aim (Africa Inland Mission) and we just found out about Aim's site for missionaries, we decided.. NOW IS THE TIME TO MOVE...will you follow us?

Please look at glswanepoel.aimsites.org

Building walls and dams

It was "business as usual" with the TSB (Tirrim School of the Bible) student, Lesantan and Grant starting to tackle the book on the wall- building leader, Nehemiah last week.

We also had a 'field day' travelling to Larabasi (35km from Korr) to assist again with the water catchment building.
Grant (left) and Morgan Knowles from Ngurunit are at it sweeping and blasting the rock-face to prepare the area for some cement. Grant and Lesantan put in a hard day's work with the men from the local village and Temple and his kids . Temple and his family has spent a lot of time camping there lately, digging out the area with his tractor. There are real chances for relationship building with the Rendille of that area. They are begging for literacy classes and to hear more about God's Word. There is talk of a possible church plant later on by AIC (Africa Inland Church), if a suitable person could be found etc.
Loki had a chance to go with Beth to the nearby village and did the translating(into Rendille) for Beth's gospel talk to the women. It was stilted, but the women seemed to get the message.
PRAY for God to bless the work so that the catchment area will be done before the rainy season. Pray that people's hearts will also be as prepared to receive the life-giving Word of God.
Pray for GRANT as we leave tomorrow on another journey. This time to Gatab on Mt Kulal, about 5 hours away. He has to attend the District Church Council meetings and it looks like there will be a lot of wisdom needed for some very hard issues. Grant and the other missionaries view these meetings partly as a teaching oppurtunity, modeling how to use the Word of God as our final authority in all matters.
Loki and the girls are going with for the fellowship. There will be a chance to learn from ladies like Peggy Heidorn (who has raised a set of twins!) and to pray with dear friends like Beth Knowles for the meetings taking place Wednesday and Thursday. We aim to travel together with the Knowles and the in their big lorry and hope to be back on Friday, 26 September in Korr.

BUSH AND BIBLE

Bush and Bible sort of describes our time in Laisamis last weekend.
Bible, because this time one day was dedicated to Bible training and one day to the business meeting.
Grant (see left) taught on church unity on Friday, 12 Sept.
Bush, since we were camping on the church compound (see photo), us ladies cooking for the 22+ men on an open fire.
Things got rather hot in more than one way. Laisamis is a really hot place, cooking on an open fire doesn't help and even in the Branch meeting things were getting pretty hot.
That is, there were some hard discussions. There is (like in any culture) a huge battle going on re whether one should take the Bible seriously in all respects (e.g. Church Discipline) or not.
Please pray for ongoing growth and maturity in both us, the missionaries and these dear brothers whom we seek to serve.

COMINGS AND GOINGS

Working with nomads means that one also has to be somewhat nomadic. All church business involving more than the local church involves travel, transport logistics and time.
This week on Thursday, 11 Sept, we are all piling into the Landy.
Destination: Laisamis (on the Great North Road, somewhere between Isiolo and Marsabit).

Occasion: Branch Church Meeting and Leadership Training.

Who is going: The whole family. Daddy Grant is teaching at the Leadership Training and attending the Branch meeting. Mommy Loki is helping with cooking for the men. Caity and Abby will go and play camping in their tent.

Others attending: Elders from the various churches in our Branch. Our friends, the Knowles, from Ngurunit will also be there, Temple attending meetings and Beth and their daughter Morgan coming to cook. We are expecting about 30 participants.

Estimated time of arrival: We hope to be there by lunchtime, Thursday. We will set up camp on the church compound and get the fires going. All the cooking will be done on an open fire, as no other facilities are available.

Estimated time of return: Depending on the Branch meeting's length, we hope to be back Sat 13 Sept in the evening. Last time the guys arrived around 10 at night!

Our expectations: We are looking to the Lord Jesus to bless these meetings with individual growth in people's lives and with progress in terms of resolving some of the sticky issues the Branch has had to deal with. We trust Him to inspire some of the men to make some tough decisions and stick to them, because that is what the Bible asks of them.

Your participation: We VALUE your prayers for this event. For the teachers, for us who cook and for participants to come with prepared hearts.

Nomads Pulpit hits the blog world

Welcome friend. Thank you for your interest in our ministry and lives. We hope that keeping this blog and my Photo blog (grantmind.blogspot.com) will give you greater insight into our daily lives on the mission field than our newsletter ever did.

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