We don't really have a "Spring" here in Kenya. Actually, it is FINALLY starting to cool down just a little bit, although it is still quite hot. But it is not nearly as hot as it was last month. The rainy season has begun with little rains here and there and more clouds and slightly lower temperatures. It has been a relief!
I want to update you through a video here. This is a different video from the one below.
Also included below is another video from the 2010 Lausanne Conference that is my prayer for our church which is filled with very busy people who usually work 50-70 hours a week. I think you might find it important and applicable for you as well! Pray for yourselves, your church, and ours as well here in Kenya across the world, struggling with some of the same problems of modern life.
If you watch both videos, it will be about the time that it takes to watch an episode of Seinfeld that you fast forward through the commercials, but it will be of greater benefit. :)
Friday, April 22, 2011
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Back to the Future
No, no, no. Not that "Back to the Future". Although that is one of my favorite movies and probably my favorite 'trilogy'. I once had a birthday party as a young boy where we watched all three in a row. I think the day before that party I was really excited and was playing on a tree in my backyard singing "Power of Love". My brother saw me and it was ALL over from there. They STILL tease me about that :)
What I mean to say is that I am back to my future here in Kenya. God only knows how long I will stay in Kenya, E. Africa, or this part of the world, but for now, I am here until the next Missions Conference in 2013. That's one of the things that made leaving a bit difficult. The baby below, my nephew Lincoln, will no longer be a baby, and my grandma will likely go home to be in the presence of the Lord where she won't ever have to eat hospital food again ;).
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| From Going Away Party 2011 |
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| From Small amount of pictures I took while visiting the states |
It was tough to leave again, but God was so gracious! The trip here included an extra 24 hours in New York City at the JFK airport due not just to snow, but to mechanical failure of the plane...and then a heck of a lot of snow.
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| From Small amount of pictures I took while visiting the states |
When I arrived here in Kenya I was shocked at how American I was acting. Culture was tough, jetlag was the worst I've had, and the heat was ruthless in comparison to the winter in Texas. But now, a month later, I feel I've adjusted back here well. I'm feeling back in the groove and even better than ever in regards to relationships, ministry, familiarity with places, navigating the culture, etc. Overall I feel quite content and excited for what the Lord has for me here.
Classes and the Church are going on very well. I am teaching Bible Doctrine again in our night classes on Tuesday and Thursday and Church History on Wednesday mornings. The church is going well even though we run into our fair share of difficulties: church discipline, conflicts between members, death in immediate families. All part of the work I suppose. We had a good Valentine's Day dinner which I managed to survive and even have a good time :). If you know me well, you know I don't like events all that much, especially ones of this nature. Here is a link to the album:
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| WOLFC Valentines |
One thing I have been very excited about is that a few people from the classes and the church are beginning to catch the smallest of visions, or perhaps at least the smallest of understanding that the church in Kenya really SHOULD do their best to reach out to Muslims and share Christ with them in an effective way. This is something I end up talking about a lot from the pulpit and in my classes. I can't help but talk about it. It's been a passion of mine for years. Here in Kenya like many places where Muslims and Christians co-exist, most Christians' default position is, "The Muslims have made their choice. It's impossible for them to come to saving faith in Christ." Which to that I usually retort, "And how were you saved? Was it because you were so smart or because God created new life in you doing the impossible for you?"
All that to say, I am excited for the people of the church to continue to grow in their understanding of God and His Word and my prayer is that it will never simply stay at understanding but will move on to application, action, and even mission! May God do a miraculous work in the Kenyan church and revive them to care more for God's fame than their own, to seek the heavenly riches over the earthly, and to sacrifice all out of love for God and an openness to His calling even to a place that is hard and a people who hate them. Would you pray that with me? Consider also praying that for the American church as a whole as well.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
texas
After a really relaxing and enjoyable transition week in Dubai / Oman with some great friends, I am back in Texas! I will be here in Dallas/Denton until the end of January through the Denton Bible Missions Conference
Once again I got to go on a really awesome hike in Oman, then later that week on a tour of Old Dubai complete with sharks, gold, spices, and a dhow ride across the channel. This is what I have pictures of, but the best things about my visit are simply moments enjoyed together with good friends, encouraging conversations, times of prayer, and learning how to best pray for my friends. Enjoy the pictures here:
Please forgive the lack of updates. I've come to a place where I can't even remember what's the last thing that I wrote to you all about. Probably something about the trip out to Meru. Well since then, things have been busy as usual. Before getting on a plane to come home for a while, I was able to continue preaching a series on the Sermon on the Mount and complete that. Also, I was able to finish the Bible Doctrine Survey class Ujamaa.
With Dennis and I gone, the main person in charge is James Muthee. He will continue to lead the church leadership team and be taking his fair share of preaching as well. Please pray for James, Jacinta, and their baby Daniel. It's a lot to take on by yourself and there is a good share of issues that are coming up within the church as usual.
In the meantime, I will be here in Dallas / Denton enjoying Christmas, my family, my friends, and supporters.
God bless (Jhn 3.30), and thank you for your prayers.
Ben Warren.
Once again I got to go on a really awesome hike in Oman, then later that week on a tour of Old Dubai complete with sharks, gold, spices, and a dhow ride across the channel. This is what I have pictures of, but the best things about my visit are simply moments enjoyed together with good friends, encouraging conversations, times of prayer, and learning how to best pray for my friends. Enjoy the pictures here:
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| Goodbye Cake, Oman, & Old Dubai |
Please forgive the lack of updates. I've come to a place where I can't even remember what's the last thing that I wrote to you all about. Probably something about the trip out to Meru. Well since then, things have been busy as usual. Before getting on a plane to come home for a while, I was able to continue preaching a series on the Sermon on the Mount and complete that. Also, I was able to finish the Bible Doctrine Survey class Ujamaa.
With Dennis and I gone, the main person in charge is James Muthee. He will continue to lead the church leadership team and be taking his fair share of preaching as well. Please pray for James, Jacinta, and their baby Daniel. It's a lot to take on by yourself and there is a good share of issues that are coming up within the church as usual.
In the meantime, I will be here in Dallas / Denton enjoying Christmas, my family, my friends, and supporters.
God bless (Jhn 3.30), and thank you for your prayers.
Ben Warren.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Pictures, Videos, & Sermons
Due to the fact that things have been VERY busy here in the Omondis' absence, I'm finding it hard to sit down and write a good update. So for now, I'd like to share with all of you some of the things I have been doing through Pictures, Videos, & Sermons!
Pictures:
This is our first Baptism Service. We were able to do this just before Dennis left on the 19th of Sept.
In early October, I had the chance to go to a rural area about 5 hours from Nairobi. It was a LONG journey: 1 1/2 hrs. to Mombasa, 8 hrs to Nairobi, 4 hrs to Nkubu, 1 hr to Mitunguu, and 30 minutes on the back of a motorbike to get to our destination. It is an area called Meru. Daniel Gitonga, our Serve intern, grew up there and is hoping to return to his home in order to teach and train pastors and work with his father in ministry. Missionaries and other NGO workers typically don't go there, so they were very happy to receive us and their hospitality was amazing. I don't ever remember being hungry! I was sick with a cold during that time but God gave me grace especially on the day of our seminar where 50 people showed up. Three old men rode their bicycles for an entire DAY in order to arrive in Karoche where the church was. They spent the night, went to the seminar, spent the night again, and rode for an entire day back. They are hungry for the Word and willing to sacrifice in order to receive it. Pretty amazing! Daniel's father is also a very influential leader in the area who has been preaching and doing ministry for 40 years. He also has established an irrigation system in his town which has really blessed a lot of the local farmers. Most of the people there simply live off the land.
Just the other week, the young people of our church (really college age) put together a Mbuzi Choma (Goat Burn) party where they bought a goat, slaughtered it, cooked it, and ate it. I led them in a Bible Study on the link between trust/faith and obedience. It was a really good time and a blessing.
As for the videos:
Dennis had asked me to make videos of many places and since they are already online now, I thought I'd share them with you:
And lastly, the sermons:
I have been preaching since Dennis left every Sunday. We are doing a series on Jesus' Discourses and Matthew. We started with the Great Commission and then moved back to Matthew 5. We are on Ch. 6 of the Sermon on the Mount now. Feel free to listen or download!
Pictures:
This is our first Baptism Service. We were able to do this just before Dennis left on the 19th of Sept.
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| Baptism Service |
In early October, I had the chance to go to a rural area about 5 hours from Nairobi. It was a LONG journey: 1 1/2 hrs. to Mombasa, 8 hrs to Nairobi, 4 hrs to Nkubu, 1 hr to Mitunguu, and 30 minutes on the back of a motorbike to get to our destination. It is an area called Meru. Daniel Gitonga, our Serve intern, grew up there and is hoping to return to his home in order to teach and train pastors and work with his father in ministry. Missionaries and other NGO workers typically don't go there, so they were very happy to receive us and their hospitality was amazing. I don't ever remember being hungry! I was sick with a cold during that time but God gave me grace especially on the day of our seminar where 50 people showed up. Three old men rode their bicycles for an entire DAY in order to arrive in Karoche where the church was. They spent the night, went to the seminar, spent the night again, and rode for an entire day back. They are hungry for the Word and willing to sacrifice in order to receive it. Pretty amazing! Daniel's father is also a very influential leader in the area who has been preaching and doing ministry for 40 years. He also has established an irrigation system in his town which has really blessed a lot of the local farmers. Most of the people there simply live off the land.
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| BTCP Trip to Meru |
Just the other week, the young people of our church (really college age) put together a Mbuzi Choma (Goat Burn) party where they bought a goat, slaughtered it, cooked it, and ate it. I led them in a Bible Study on the link between trust/faith and obedience. It was a really good time and a blessing.
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| Mbuzi Choma (Goat Burn) |
As for the videos:
Dennis had asked me to make videos of many places and since they are already online now, I thought I'd share them with you:
Inside the Serve Center!
Outside the Serve Center!
Outside Bathrooms At Serve!
Inside the Main House!
Just Before Church!
During Church!
Outside the Serve Center!
Outside Bathrooms At Serve!
Inside the Main House!
Just Before Church!
During Church!
And lastly, the sermons:
I have been preaching since Dennis left every Sunday. We are doing a series on Jesus' Discourses and Matthew. We started with the Great Commission and then moved back to Matthew 5. We are on Ch. 6 of the Sermon on the Mount now. Feel free to listen or download!
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
one year (!)
Jerry Clark and his Team:
My life is a mess, but my heart is encouraged.
For any of you who know me well, you know I don't handle busy-ness that well. I need the occasional evening free and at least one day of the week where not much happens or is planned. In that sense the two weeks the team from Denton Bible was here was tough, but in another sense, they were all very encouraging. They taught very well and I was blessed by their teaching and by the trip up to Nairobi last week.
We had a week of conferences here in our area and a week in Nairobi. The men were teaching pastors who are all either current students or alumni of BTCP (Bible Training Center for Pastors) while the women were visiting ladies' homes from our church. Each evening we met back together at the Serve Center for an evening seminar on Conflict Resolution with Jerry Clark speaking. Jerry is on staff with Denton Bible and works with the Men's Ministry and Reconciliation Ministry (counseling couples with struggling marriages). Each night people packed into our small classroom even to the point where some people (me every night!) having to stand. Everyone seemed to walk away with one word in their mouths, "Wow". Then we had a team day with the men which was incredibly encouraging as Jerry gave us some wisdom about 'temperaments' that people have. Apparently I'm laid back and a perfectionist at the same time! No wonder I'm so conflicted :). The next day was a wedding which I stood in giving me the opportunity to where an African dress shirt. Apparently, according to the comments I received I looked "gooood".
We took a day off and then headed out to Nairobi for another conference on discipleship. I was encouraged and reminded of my desire to work for the kingdom of God by making disciples of men. Please pray that God would bring faithful men into my path and I would know how to lead them towards maturity.
For more pictures from the last two weeks go here: DBC Team 2010
The Omondis are leaving:
Next week Dennis, Allison, and Anjela Omondi are coming to the states for home service for 5 months. James and I are left in charge of Serve and James, myself, and two other men are left in the leadership of the church. I am anticipating a challenge here, because it doesn't seem like the workload will be reducing at all even though the workers are reducing. There is a lot going on in the church including this current "Vision" - click on it to see more.
Pray for the Omondis - for rest and spiritual rejuvenation, for their support raising and care for their supporters, and for their time with family.
Pray for us - to work with the energy of the Lord. To have precision in our times of preparation for class and studies; to use less time but be more effective.
Me?:
During all that crazy busyness stated above, I turned a year old. I left the states on September 5th, 2009. I've passed the year mark! Looking back, the amount of progress that occurred is....well, it's a lot! There's so much to learn! Culturally, I feel like I have been picking away at the ice of a frozen lake for a year now getting closer and closer. After a year, I've broken the ice, but I'm realizing that the lake goes down 200 feet deep, and it's very wide too. I'm sure you can measure it in volume as well...that's a lot of liters. Culture! Wow. So, one year. Is it 1/4 of the way through my term? Is it, "Wow, I've been away for SO LONG!"? I think it is more like, "Ok now I've officially started. Now I'm just beginning. I'll let you know if I say the same thing next year too :)
I'm good, but a little overwhelmed as usual. We are going to do a sermon series at the church over the Discourses of Matthew.
Prayer Requests:
My life is a mess, but my heart is encouraged.
For any of you who know me well, you know I don't handle busy-ness that well. I need the occasional evening free and at least one day of the week where not much happens or is planned. In that sense the two weeks the team from Denton Bible was here was tough, but in another sense, they were all very encouraging. They taught very well and I was blessed by their teaching and by the trip up to Nairobi last week.
We had a week of conferences here in our area and a week in Nairobi. The men were teaching pastors who are all either current students or alumni of BTCP (Bible Training Center for Pastors) while the women were visiting ladies' homes from our church. Each evening we met back together at the Serve Center for an evening seminar on Conflict Resolution with Jerry Clark speaking. Jerry is on staff with Denton Bible and works with the Men's Ministry and Reconciliation Ministry (counseling couples with struggling marriages). Each night people packed into our small classroom even to the point where some people (me every night!) having to stand. Everyone seemed to walk away with one word in their mouths, "Wow". Then we had a team day with the men which was incredibly encouraging as Jerry gave us some wisdom about 'temperaments' that people have. Apparently I'm laid back and a perfectionist at the same time! No wonder I'm so conflicted :). The next day was a wedding which I stood in giving me the opportunity to where an African dress shirt. Apparently, according to the comments I received I looked "gooood".
We took a day off and then headed out to Nairobi for another conference on discipleship. I was encouraged and reminded of my desire to work for the kingdom of God by making disciples of men. Please pray that God would bring faithful men into my path and I would know how to lead them towards maturity.
For more pictures from the last two weeks go here: DBC Team 2010
The Omondis are leaving:
Next week Dennis, Allison, and Anjela Omondi are coming to the states for home service for 5 months. James and I are left in charge of Serve and James, myself, and two other men are left in the leadership of the church. I am anticipating a challenge here, because it doesn't seem like the workload will be reducing at all even though the workers are reducing. There is a lot going on in the church including this current "Vision" - click on it to see more.
Pray for the Omondis - for rest and spiritual rejuvenation, for their support raising and care for their supporters, and for their time with family.
Pray for us - to work with the energy of the Lord. To have precision in our times of preparation for class and studies; to use less time but be more effective.
Me?:
During all that crazy busyness stated above, I turned a year old. I left the states on September 5th, 2009. I've passed the year mark! Looking back, the amount of progress that occurred is....well, it's a lot! There's so much to learn! Culturally, I feel like I have been picking away at the ice of a frozen lake for a year now getting closer and closer. After a year, I've broken the ice, but I'm realizing that the lake goes down 200 feet deep, and it's very wide too. I'm sure you can measure it in volume as well...that's a lot of liters. Culture! Wow. So, one year. Is it 1/4 of the way through my term? Is it, "Wow, I've been away for SO LONG!"? I think it is more like, "Ok now I've officially started. Now I'm just beginning. I'll let you know if I say the same thing next year too :)
I'm good, but a little overwhelmed as usual. We are going to do a sermon series at the church over the Discourses of Matthew.
- I will begin on the 26th of Sept with the Sermon on the Mount and preach through October.
- I hope to make two trips - one possibly in early October to a rural region in Kenya NE of Nairobi with James and our intern Daniel Gitonga, and another possibly in early November to visit some friends in NE Ethiopia.
- I am beginning Bible Doctrine Survey in one of our classes every Tuesday & Thursday morning.
Prayer Requests:
- Praise God for a good time with the team from Denton and all the ministry we were able to accomplish.
- Praise God for the wedding that happened two Sundays ago. Many people from the church rallied together in service each playing their part to celebrate the union of Delvis and Elizabeth.
- Praise God for one year in Kenya!
- Pray for the church during this time without their official pastor. May we all grow in grace and learning. Pray for their spiritual growth and ability to stand firm as the leadership team leads them.
- Pray for the Omondis and for James Muthee, Martin Murigi, Godfrey Ikanda, Esther Karanja, and myself as we lead Word of Life Fellowship.
- Pray for me: spiritual fortitude, wisdom & discernment, faith/trust in God and not my logic nor emotions (I'm actually very logical AND emotional - another contradiction ; ) ), rest and energy which comes from God, and a focus not on my teaching but in the students' understanding.
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