Mercy Ministries Minute No. 1
Over the last few months we've struggled to get updates, prayer requests, praises, and needs out to our friends and family. Since the beginning of Mercy Ministries we've used Facebook to communicate all of these things, but over the last year FB has changed a lot and the algorithms just aren't friendly to us. My posts on FB are often suppressed, so it is time to change things up a bit, which isn't a problem at all.
For a couple of years now we've been talking about doing some type of news letter and today I'm just diving right in and making it happen. We are hoping to do this every couple of weeks just to keep everyone in the loop and so we can share specific prayer requests. Feel free to share this with others and to give us feedback on this new format. Let us know if we are missing something that you'd like to know more about! You can simply reply to this email or comment on the blog and Jeff and/or I will get it.
So here's the first "Mercy Ministries Minute" where we hope to give you a glimpse of what's been going on lately. Thank you for all of your continued love and support, we are so thankful that God has built such an amazing team for His work here!
The Sawyer Family and the Bys Family, we had so much fun!
MBC weekly prayer meeting
Benji is packing on the weight!
Praises:
General
The Bys' were able to visit friends and fellow missionaries who live in the Maasai Mara for a week. It was such a blessing and an encouragement to us to spend time with the Travis and Laura Sawyer family at their mission. Not only were we able to form great friendships, but we learned a lot from them as they have been in Kenya for 16 years! This trip was so good for our whole family and gave us a lot to think about regarding ministry here in our area.
Church
We recently added a midweek prayer meeting where we include our students who are in 5th through 10th grade.
Home
We are finally over all the stomach issues and everyone is feeling a lot better.
We are on a week long break from school and the children are enjoying extra free-time and relaxing.
We are getting an amazing vegetable chopper that should make the work in the kitchen a lot easier and quicker. Currently we are serving over 4,000 plates of food (what a blessing) a week and there is a lot of chopping involved.
All of our babies that we took in with malnutrition are doing great! They are growing and thriving!
School
School attendance has been great over the last couple of weeks. Between sickness and cultural traditions, some students had been missing school on a regular basis.
The students finished their 2nd term testing just before their break.
The students had a lot of projects to complete this last term and they were able to get them completed.
Feeding the church after service.
This classroom is unfinished, but is usable.
Ephy taking an end of term test.
Prayer Points:
General
Inflation is still hitting Kenya hard. Food cost and transportation are way up compared to a year ago. The government just discontinued a subsidy for fuel and corn flour. Both of these are going to cause food to go up even more causing crisis for some families, especially those in our village and surrounding villages.
We now have a new president for Kenya and new governor over our county. Please pray for a smooth transition for these new administrations.
Jeff and I will be on a 2 week break soon. We are celebrating our 20th anniversary a little early (it is actually January 11th) because we will be busy opening the school for the new year during that time. Please pray for Dottie (assistant director), Caitie, and Karson as they run the ministry during our break.
Church
We are planning our 4th annual Bible conference which will be held at the end of November. The theme this year will be "The Glory of Christ." Please pray for us as we plan and prepare, and for those who will be attending.
Salvation for church attendees. Jeff faithfully presents the Gospel each week.
That church members would have more desire to serve the church body.
Home
True salvation of our children. They are hearing the Gospel and learning about God multiple times each day.
God would bring us faithful workers who love children and are eager to learn a new way of doing things.
Salvation of our staff. They attend a Bible study 5 days a week and attend most of our church services.
School
Funding for new classes at the high school. To get the 2 more required classrooms we need to raise $30,000, but that campus also needs a dining hall, kitchen, and more toilets.
For our students to finish the school year strong. School will be ending at the end of November.
A plan for the upcoming 2 month break for the school. Many of our students will lack food during this break and we would like to help offset that. During school our students are served 2 meals and a snack each day.
Salvation of our students who are regularly being taught God's Word.
Sunday service
Kijiji Gardens, our permaculture garden.
Kindergarten
Happenings
Church
Jeff is in the process of meeting with church attendees who would like to be baptized and become members of Mercy Baptist Church.
Home
During this week off from school, we are extending the permaculture garden. Our children love working in the garden and it is an important life-skill for living in western Kenya.
School
Our teachers are preparing to start our 3rd and final term for this school year.
Karson is working on building the forms and pouring the steps for each class at the high school campus.
Giving links:
Sponsor a student
Sponsor a child living at MCH
School fundraiser
General giving
Amazon wish lists
Yvonne finishing up her end of term exam.
A project that requires eating, the students’ favorite.
A friendly game of “knockout” while on our visit to Maasai Mara.