Thursday 28 June 2007

PLI - 1 - Visiting the ELCK


The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya - ELCK - received the visit of four pastors and their wives from 12th to 30th June. This is part of their training in the Pastoral Leadership Institute - PLI -: To visit a sister-church in another country.
Rev. Gary and Carol Hill, from Parma, Ohio. Rev. Donald and Cheryl Schoenback, from Phoenix, Arizona. Rev. Daniel and Rachel Wehmeier,from Gardner, Kansas. Rev. Mark and Rose Krause, going in September to serve the Lutheran Church in Latvia. They were hosted at the house of Rev. Claude and Rhoda Houge (who are in the USA for several meetings) in Karen, Nairobi. Vicar Nathan Scheele and Melissa, and Rev. Carlos Walter Winterle and Lídia were in charge of the group.

PLI - 2 - Meeting with the Bishop







On June 13th the PLI group had a meeting with Bishop Walter Obare and with the Officers of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya - ELCK for orientation. Bishop received a T-shirt as a gift and Luther's Small Catechisms. Pastor Chuchu, in charge of the ELCK Projects, received some Medical Supplies.



PLI - 3 - Kawangware







On June 14th, in the morning, the PLI team visited Kawangware.

They had opportunity to see the children in the school, the work

that the youths of the congregation have with the street-boys,

the work with the HIV/AIDS infected women. The children

received some mementos specially done for this occasion by

American children.




PLI - 4 - Kibera




The group visited Kibera, the biggest slum of Africa, on June 14 afternoon.
They saw the new dispensary, the school and the slum.


PLI - A Seminar at UHLC




On 15th June the PLI team presented a Seminar for pastors and church leaders at the Uhuru Highway Lutheran Cathedral. At the end of the Seminar, the group gave children's clothes, Sunday's School materials and Medical Supplies to be used in the parish: for the children who are with their mamas in prison, for the four (4) Sunday's School of the parish and for the Dispensary in Kibera.
THANK YOU!!!



PLI - 6 - Taveta and Kiambu








The group visited Taveta from 16 to 19 June, where they presented a Seminar for pastors and church leaders. They gave gifts to some people: cows and bicycles.



When they came back to Nairobi, we visited Kiambu, the smallest and poorest congregation of the Nairobi Parish.



Afternoon the same day, the PLI wives presented a Seminar to some ladies of the UHLC parish.
















PLI - 7 - At Melissa's Birthday party






After the meetings, seminars, visits, etc., some time to relax.
On 21st June all came to our home to a dinner. They were dressed with the shirts and skirts they received from the people in Taveta: all matching!!! Very nice!!!
The next day was Melissa's birthday (Melissa is the wife of Vicar Nathan). Lídia prepared a cake and we sang "Happy Birthday".
And then: All ready for a Safari. Wehmeier's girls and Kody came to the Safari too.
If you are planning to come to Kenya, please, put in your schedule time for a Safari. It's worthy!!!



Sunday 10 June 2007

PREACH THE WORD - 1 - THROUGH LITERATURE - The Bible








"Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage - with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine... But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry." (2 Timothy 4.1,2,5)
The press is a very big blessing that God gave us to spread the Gospel! Let us think little bit about this blessing and how we are using Literature to "preach the Word".
We bought Bibles from the Scriptures Mission and from the International Bible Society to give as a gift to the Langata Women's Prison(see picture) and to be used in our Cathedral in the Teens Club, in Bible Studies, in Meetings (see pictures). This was possible by special donation from members of our congregation, from a friend of the USA and from a friend of Brazil. THANK YOU!
Bibles were sold at the Cathedral, so that more congregants can have their own Bible (see picture).
Are you reading your Bible at home? "Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path" (Psalm 119:105).



Preach the Word - 2 - Through Literature - The Catechism







"But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have know the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy3:14-17).
Luther's Small Catechism is a "little Bible", or "the Bible of the lay people". It has been used in our Bible Studies to prepare better our Christians; in home visits in preparation for Baptism; and as a gift to people interested to know better the Lutheran Christian faith.
The Catechism we are using were donated by friends of the LCMS (in English) and by the Lutheran Heritage Foundation (in Swahili).
(In the pictures: some Catechisms; Kevin being instructed by his mother; Paul David, Jessica and Victor reading the Small Catechism in preparation for their Baptism; a Bible Study group at the Cathedral.)



Preach the Word - 3 - Through Literature - "Good News"


"I bring you GOOD NEWS of great joy that will be for all the people... Christ the Lord!" (Luke 2:10-11).


Good News magazine is beeing used in the Bible Study group, in some home visits, and several issues were taken to the man's prison and to Langata Women's prison. They were donated by the Lutheran Heritage Foundation (in Swahili) and from the Good News office (in English) from the USA. THAN YOU!

(In the pictures: Good News be taken to the prison and be given to the prisoners.



Preach the Word - 4 - Through Literature - Sunday School








"Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." (Proverbs 22:6).
We are receiving some gifts to buy Sunday's School material from friends of Brazil and some Sunday's School Resources from friends of the USA. THANK YOU! We know how important it is for a Lutheran Congregation to have a good Sunday's School program with good literature for the teachers and good material for the children.
(In the pictures: Sunday's School Rally; children from UHLC and from Kawangware Sunday's School; Sunday's School material bought with the gifts received.)


Preach the Word - 5 - Through Literature - Tracts/Pamphlets



The Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches." (Matthew 13:31-32)
Sometimes just a pamphlet ignites the heart of somebody with Christ's love! Don't be ashamed; give Christian tracts to your friends, to your neighbor. Maybe this is the way he/she will hear about Jesus!
(In the pictures: People receiving LHF tracts after the service to pass on to their friends and relatives, as part of ABLAZE at UHLC; and: tracts received from the "Scripture Mission" to be taken to Langata Women's Prison. Thank you, LHF and Scrip. Mission.)

Preach the Word - 6 - Through Literature - Christian Books

"Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written." (John 21:25).

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me - put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." (Philippians 4:8-9)


(In the pictures: Christian books; and Dr. Roegner (LCMS-WM) giving a book to Bishop Walter Obare.)

Preach the Word - 7 - Through Literature - The Word is CHRIST!

"And the WORD became flesh and made his dwelling among us." (John 1:14). To preach the WORD is to preach CHRIST!
"I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to HIM; but the Holy Spirit has called my by the GOSPEL, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith." (Martin Luther, Small Catechism, The Third Article).
"Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." (Psalm 23:6)
(In the picture: The 23th Psalm in Swahili.)

Friday 1 June 2007

ACTIVITIES - 1 - Elder's Installation







We are sharing with you some ACTIVITIEST that happened in our Uhuru Highway Lutheran Cathedral these last weeks. Praise God that He is blessing us all so much!
The Elders were installed on May 20th, promising to be faithful to God and to the congregation in their duties.
After the service, as it happened all Sundays, people were dismiss in peace.



Activities - 2 - Four Baptisms






On May 13, Mother's Day, we baptized four children. Paul David Rugendo Wekesa, Victor Kimanii Wekesa and Jessica Mukite Wekesa were visited in their house with their parents Dr. Elisha and Mrs. Angelina Wekesa in Ongata Rongai. They received instruction about the baptism from the Bible (John 3 and Matthew 28) and from the "Katekisimo Ndogo" (Luther's Small Catechism in Swahili - LHF).
Acts 2:38-39: "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far of - for all whom the Lord our God will call."