Several Activities (L): I - UHLC Activities

On the 1st of February 2009 we had our first Service of our second term (two more years) as pastor at Uhuru Highway Lutheran Cathedral – English International Service.
It was so nice to meet all the people and to be welcomed with so much love! Lidia and I said to all: THANK YOU! GOD BLESS YOU ALL!
Based on John 3:16, the sermon stressed the goal for the second term: To share God’s love in Christ with both in words and in deeds!

– Rev. Claude and Rhoda, helped by Catherine, organized us and some friends a lunch at their house after the service to welcome us back.

– It was good not only to see all the friendly people, but also some local marks: the Maasai cows crossing the roads, among the cars,…

… and the furniture factories and stores on the side of the roads, where we bought all the furniture for our house when we came to Nairobi two years ago.

On the 7th of February the Elders and Pastors had their regular meeting. After the meeting we visited Elder Thomas Mokua and his family; they offered a good lunch to all of us. – Thomas had lost his mother some weeks before; she was over 100 years old and we took him a comfort from the Word of God. – Pastoral Staff attended also the burial of Simon Kariba Njatha, Magiri’s brother in Ngong Hills; and visited Joseph+ Evelyn+ Monica Mbui in Ongata Rongai on 17th February.

On the 8th/02, after the service, we went with Rev. Claude Houge to the dedication of a plot where Catherine will begin to build her house in Ngong Town. Catherine is the secretary of the LCMS Mission Office in Karen, Nairobi, and a good friend of ours. Her relatives and friends were also there.

The Board of Heart to Heart Orphans Children Center – OOHCC - had several meetings in February and March, discussing the plans, the budget, the sponsors, the projects and so fort. God is blessing the HHOCC efforts in helping the needy people. Thank you, sponsors from Kenya, Hungary, USA, Germany and Brazil!

Nzumari Africa Choir sang at our Service on 15th February. Just girls, proclaiming the Gospel through music in churches and events.

The Sunday School Teachers had their first training for this year on February 21st. The number of children coming to the different classes at UHLC, Kawangware, Kibera and Kiambu is increasing. The teachers need more resources: activities, pictures and more helpers. - They have training once a month.

Dr. Dean Nadasdy, LCMS Vice President, preached at the Cathedral on March 1st.
He and his wife Susan came to the dedication of the Luther Plaza (see the next postage), representing the LCMS. Thank you, Dr. Dean. – (Pr. Carlos was in Mozambique that Sunday.)

– On the same Sunday was the farewell of our organist Stephen Padre, who went back to the USA. Thank you, Stephen, for serving the Lord with your skills while in Nairobi.

– March 15th – The Angaza Choir, from the Swahili Service, sang at the English Service. They are planning to come once a month to sing at the English Service. Thank you!

March 22nd: Dr. Jack Preus, President of the Concordia University, Irvine, California, visited our congregation with his daughter Rebecca. On Friday March 20th he was at the Matongo Lutheran Theological College where he gave an honorary doctorate D.D. – Doctor Divinitatis – to Bishop Obare.(See end of the next postage).

Dr. Preus preached on Philippians 2: 5-11: Jesus Christ is the Lord! – Thank you, Dr. Preus.

Some of the Sunday School children had some memory verse to share that same Sunday.

– Norwegian teachers from the Norwegian School at the Scripture Mission compound sang to the glory of God: Anne-Hjørdis Grøvan (Alto), Silje Hodne (Soprano) and Øyvind Stavnes (Piano)

Prof. Dr. Joseph Ochola Omollo, President of the Matongo Lutheran Theological College, and his wife Ruth also attended the service. They were with Dr. Preus.

Several Activities (L): II - ELCK Activities

LUTHER PLAZA DEDICATION
– February 27th 2009: A very important date for the ELCK – The dedication of the LUTHER PLAZA.

– The LUTHER PLAZA is an office complex next to the UHLC and to the Uhuru Park in Nairobi. The ELCK offices – National Headquarters - are now there and the UHLC has her new offices and facilities there too. – The other offices will be rented out to pay the loan and to help the ELCK to carry on her responsibilities as church in the country.

A special loan granted by the Lutheran Church Extension Fund – LCEF made the building of the LUTHER PLAZA possible. (Picture from the back).

The building plans had begun shortly before we came to Kenya…

…and when we arrived in Nairobi/October 2006 there was a big hole beside the Cathedral.

We could follow step by step the several phases of the building.

December 2007: This was the stage of the building from the back, during a Sunday School Rally.

May 2008 – The building was almost finished outside…

– and could be well seen from the roundabout next to the Cathedral.

“The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya has attained a major milestone by putting up the new building” said the General secretary Rev. John Halakhe.

– Bishop Rev. Dr. Walter Obare Omwanza is the head of the ELCK and the main idealizator of that building.

More than 1000 people attended the event and were hosted in tents.

Several choirs performed during the ceremony: Kisumu Luth. Cathedral Choir, The Conquerors, Itierio Lutheran Church Choir, Kumpa Lutheran (Massai) Choir, Nairobi Lutheran Mass Choir.

Heart to Heart Orphans Children Center and several other entities had special boots at the Plaza to show and to offer their products.

– Many pastors and Bishops came to the Dedication Service…

… and took part of the ceremony.

“Nakuru Bethseda Children Acrobatic Group” came too.

The flags from the Mission Partners countries were put side by side to the Kenyan flag: United States of America, Sweden, Norway and Finland.

Rev. Thomas Asiago – South West Diocese Bishop; Rev. Richard Amayo – Lake Diocese Bishop; The Most Rev. Dr. Walter Obare – Central Diocese Bishop and ELCK Presiding Bishop; Rev. Dr. Dean Nadasdy – LCMS Vice-President: Rev. Dr. Ishmael Noko – LWF General Secretary.

– The band.

The tent reserve to H.E. Hon. Mwai Kibaki, President of the Republic of Kenya and to other honorable guests.

The ELCK representatives and other authorities waiting for the President Kibaki.

The band playing the National Anthem, as follow:

O God of all creation / Bless this our land and nation,
Justice be our shield and defender, / May we dwell in unity,
Peace and liberty/ Plenty be found within our borders.

Let one and all arise/ With hearts both strong and true
Service be our earnest endeavour/ and our homeland of Kenya,
Heritage of splendour/ Firm may we stand to defend.

Let all with one accord/ In common bond united,
Build this our nation together/ and the glory of Kenya,
The fruit of our labor/ Fill every heart with thanksgiving.

– His Excellency the President, Hon. Mwai Kibaki greeting the other authorities.

Vice-Pres. and Minister for Home Affairs, Hon. Kalonzo Musyoka, E.G.H., M.P., greeting ELCK General secretary Rev. John Halakeh. In the back: Rev. Dr. Ishmael Noko, LWF General Secretary.

– Pres. Kibaki, Bishp Obare, Vice-Pres. Kalonzo. In the back (right): Dr. Dean Nadasdy and ELCK Bishops.

Pres. Kibaki unveiling the commemorative plaque.

The plaque.

His Excellency the President, Hon. Mwai Kibaki, C.G.H., M.P. going after the lunch served at the UHLC Hall.

The President’s escort.
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DOCTOR HONORIS CAUSA

On March 20th, 2009, at the Matongo Lutheran Theological College, The Presiding Bishop Rev. Dr. Walter Obare received his second honorary doctorate – D.D. – DOCTOR DIVINITATIS. Dr. Jack Preus, from the Concordia University, Irvine, California, USA, brought this honor to Bishop Obare.

The Choirs opened the processional for the ceremony.

Bishop Obare knelled to receive the honor.

This is a recognition of his outstanding Biblical theological position confessed among the churches and in the world. To GOD be the glory! (Pictures by Rhoda Houge – Thank you).

Several Activities (L): III - MOZAMBIQUE

From 23rd February to 2nd March, Rev. Claude Houge, LCMS World Mission Area Facilitator - East Africa, and Rev. Carlos Walter Winterle , were in Beira, Mozambique, representing Dr. Mike Rodewald, LCMS World Mission Regional Director – Africa. We were invited by the Igreja Evangélica Luterana de Moçambique – IELM, to participate in a meeting of the Joint Mission Board – JMB. ( Sorry that we were not at the LUTHER PLAZA dedication...)

Representatives form several mission partners were there: Lutheran Communion in Southern Africa – LUCSA; Ev. Luth. Church Zimbabwe; – ELC Tanzânia; ELC South África; Ev. Luth. Church in America – ELCA – EUA; – Ev. Luth. Church Bavaria – Germany; Ig. Ev. de Conf. Lut. no Brasil – IECLB; – Daenisch Lutheran Mission – Dinamarca; Ig. Ev. Lut. de Angola; Lutheran World Federation – LWF – Mozambique.

– On 25th February we visited the Lutheran Church in Gorongosa, (210 km from Beira).

The Christians welcomed us with music and dances.

The church is a very simple one, built with local resources.

People gathered with the guests and after a prayer and music session, they could expose their situation and needs.

The houses where people live form a typical village of that area.

The children are very kind, but they need a lot of health assistance.

Several Activities (L): IV - VISITORS

CCCS
David W. Saving, Executive Director of CHILDREN’S CHRISTIAN CONCERN SOCIETY – CCCS, from Kansas, USA, and Steve Hartwig visited Nairobi March 1st to 9th. “Sharing the Love of Christ through Christian Education” is the CCCS motto. “Learning of a loving Savior is life changing; education is a path out of poverty.” - To know more about CCCS go to: www.cccskids.org

Heart to Heart Orphan Children Center (HHOCC) workers took them to visit Veronica’s school in Kawangware, where some orphans receive support through HHOCC.

The nursery children are all in one classroom.

Two children from the school.

There is also one room class for the 1st to the 5th grade

– David shared the love of Jesus with the children, telling them a story.

Beata, Mary and Sylvester with children sponsored by HHOCC.

New furniture for the classes was manufactured outside the school.

– After the school, we visited the Orphans Feeding Program ongoing in the Kawangware Church. David shared a Bible Truth with them too.

– 35 children are enrolled in the program, receiving a plate of food once a day from Monday to Friday. (In the line to receive the food).

Mosa and Douglas, two youth leaders in Kawangware, are the cooks.

Receiving the lunch.

Eating, after the prayer.

The Shower/Water Project planned for the Homeless Boys was shown to David.

The water tank is already there, waiting for the building.

The IHV/AIDS infected women came also to spend a moment with David. They have weekly meetings, when the Word of God is shared with them and they make handcrafts and learn about personal and family healthcare.

After lunch, we visited Kibera Lutheran School. 126 children attend the school now, half of them with scholarship from some entities.

Pastor Dennis Meeker and the teachers explained to David how the school was recovered and is growing after it was burnt down during the post-election violence.

On Sunday David shared an experience about faith with the Sunday School Children at UHLC (English and Swahili Services).
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– REV. DANIEL LAI

March 11th: Rev. Daniel Lai JP, SIL International – Partnership Coordinator, brought four youth from New Jersey, USA, to see partnership possibilities. (http://www.sil.org/ - http://www.wycliffe.net/ - http://www.jaars.org/ -http://www.thetask.net/ ) - They visited Kibera Slum first, guided by HHOCC people.

In the middle of the slum, the most common, beautiful flower in Nairobi: the bougainvilleas.

The principal of the school welcomed the group.

Rev. David and the children.

– After Kibera, they visited Kawangware too, just during the Feeding Program. – The children washing their hands before they receive the food.

Receiving a plate of food.

Doing the daily register of attendance.

The visitors brought little notebooks, pencils and some candies for the children.

Several Activities (L): V - KAWANGWARE

March 15th: HHOCC had a meeting with the Elders of Kawangware Lutheran Church to talk with them about the projects ongoing in their facilities: The Orphans Feeding Program, the Homeless Boys Program, the HIV/AIDS Infected and Affected People, the Water/Showers Project.
- The former Elders had just a meeting with the new Elders that day, and all were together for the meeting with HHOCC. (First on the right: The former Chairlady).

The new Chairman: Mr. Daudi Mesiaki.

Pastor Zedekiah and Evangelist Emmanuel.

Several Activities (L): VI - CLEANING THE CATHEDRAL

After the new building next to the UHLC had been completed and the dedication of the Luther Plaza took place, the Cathedral needed to be repaired and to be cleaned. – Mrs. Beata Balint, with the support of the Elders, called for a general repair and cleaning, and also for a fundraising for the furniture for the new offices.

Several cracks were repaired and the Cathedral was painted inside and some parts outside.

March 22nd, Saturday: Around 60 people responded to the call and came to clean and to help in whatever was necessary. – The windows were cleaned up (upper and lower) , inside and outside.

The balcony was cleaned up from all stuff stored there.

The chairs were cleaned…

… and also the new Sunday School Chairs, just bought;

– the furniture…

-… and all the benches (pews) were carried out, washed, waxed and carried in again when the Cathedral was clean.

The chandeliers, the carpet and the floor… all were cleaned.

It was nice to see students…

… and professors…

… women…

… and men… young and old… all working together, in well organized teams.

All had fun in helping and to see how the Cathedral was becoming clean.

Around noon we had a break for devotion and for lunch in the new UHLC facilities in the Luther Plaza, just behind the Cathedral. – The old tables had been repaired the week before.

After the lunch all helped to finish the cleaning of the floor, inside and outside.

Finally all was clean and ready to be put in their own places again.

The balcony and all was shinning!

The altar and the other tables were clothed with new white table clothes + the collor from the Lent Season.

And, of course, tired, it was time to rest!!!

On Sunday, some pictures from the work were shared with the congregants, and Mrs. Beata said a THANK YOU to all for the goodwill and help.

The Cathedral is now ready again to carry out its goal:

...To proclaim the message of the cross to Nairobi and to so many international people crossing through our city.

Several Activities (L): VII - DO YOU KNOW THESE PEOPLE?

– Rev. Asfaha Mehari, President of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Eritrea – ELCE, visited our Service on February 1st.

– He was with a group from NOREA MEDIA MISSION. NOREA is owned and run by the Norwegian Lutheran Mission and uses radio, TV and the Internet to proclaim the Gospel in more than 25 languages throughout the world. – From right to left: Mr. Martin Birkeclal (NOREA ); Mr. Fikreyesus (ELCE), Mrs. Miria Fecada (ELCE), Rev. Asfaha Mehari (Pres. ELCE), Rev. C.W.Winterle and Mr. Ato Shibru Galla (Ethiopia Evangelical Church Mekane Yesu – EELMY), - E-mail:post@norea.no – Internet: http://www.norea.no/ (01/February 2009)

– Prof. Malachy Akoroda, from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, working temporary for FAO, Nairobi. (He already went back to Nigeria). (08/February/2009)

– Mr. Uswege Minga and Mrs. Freda Minga. (08/February/2009)

– Lise & Tore Lindseth, and Vivi & Harald Ro, from Norway; visiting Astrid & Bjorn in Nairobi (15/February/2009)

Delano and Linda Meyer,LCMS World Mission long-time missionary from West Africa; their son Brian, his wife Robin, and two daughters, Marissa and Heather, from the USA. (15/February/2009)

– Paula and Leroy Bradway (on the right), from the USA, Sarah’s Padre parents + Sarah, Stephen and Lexi (15/February/2009)

Margareta Iven and his sister Inger Malo (15/February/2009)

– Mr. Ochich, his wife Jean and the children: Lisa, Evans Larry and Robin.

Onesmas Kingoina Otiso, his wife Esnas Nyaera and the baby Havilah Nyarabi Kingoina, (2 months old). The son Micah Gisore Kingoina (3 years old) was in the school. Onesmas is Angaza Choir Master. They were visited by the Pastoral Staff on March 25th and Havilah will be baptized on Palm Sunday, 5th April.