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From Max, Minister to Mexico...
It’s an experience you don’t easily forget!
I just returned from Hidalgo, Mexico and the port in Veracruz. Was there with Norma Hernandez and a friend of Betty Cavazos in Monterrey. Norma was converted in Monterrey about two years ago by Betty and Eguren brothers. Norma’s dad still lives in Monterrey and attends the Independence congregation. Norma left Monterrey two years ago for a small Indian village in the mountains of Hidalgo. She lives and ministers among 24 families on a small portion of land the government has given them. The nearest town is 45 miles away! They have to ride in the back of a pickup into town and back. You hold on to the rails in the truck with one hand (while standing!) and hold on to your groceries with the other! |
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Norma, Betty and I left by bus on Thursday at 7:00pm and arrived in their village at 1:00pm the next afternoon. When we arrived, Norma’s family was waiting for us. They made us feel very welcome in their humble home. It was a great honor to be there. The beds were simple and the bathrooms were outside with the ducks, chickens, and pigs. The place to wash up was also outside. The stove was a single-burner wood-burning type that served as much as a heater as a place to cook! Coffee and snacks were served in the morning; breakfast came at about 11:00am; and Dinner came at about 5:00pm. It was very cold and hard to heat up the place, even though I wore two or three sweaters!
We studied with them from about 9:00am until 5:00pm each day. We studied Pentecostal and Jehovah’s Witness beliefs a lot. We also studied the book of Acts, and other foundational N.T. teachings. We brought many books with us and translated as much as possible into Spanish for them to study more on their own. Our study time was wonderful. They took notes and asked many questions. In the end, we had three baptisms: Giovani Granados Hernandez age 13, Yareli Granados Hernandez age 14; and the mother Ema Granados Hernandez age 46 were all baptized. Then on Sunday afternoon we had our first congregational service. It was conducted by Norma’s father, brother and me. We had the Lord’s Supper and were blessed with a wonderful first service together. Afterwards, Betty took out her Sunday school material and taught the children and Norma how to have classes together.
We left on Monday afternoon and arrived back in Monterrey on Tuesday morning. I left Monterrey on Tuesday afternoon after a very tiring trip. It was a 2,000 mile trip that I’ll never forget. We are always pleased with the help received and continue to make future plans for the Lord’s sake.
For the cause of Christ,
Max R. Zamorano |
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Philip & Jaime circa 1999 |
From Duncan, Minister to Kilifi...
Tough Times for Church Leaders (Kibarani Church of Christ)
Kibarani church of Christ is the mother church in Kilifi District. It was the first, and from it, many others were planted. Philip Safari (the preacher at Kibarani church) was there from the beginning and is respected as a pioneer of other churches. But tough times have forced him to abandon the church. Philip has not been attending leader’s meetings and even failed to avail himself on Sundays to serve the flock he had laboriously worked for many years. The main problem was food. His economic status had deteriorated to an extent that he couldn’t put food on the table for his family. He was forced to look for manual jobs even on Sunday. |
The church tried to support him, but because he has a big family and the times are hard for everyone, they were unable to continue. I did what little I could and gave him 3,000 KSH (about $38) to help him revive his small business of selling fruits and vegetables. Because even this amount was small compared to the need, I talked to the members of Kibarani church of Christ. We organized an area wide fellowship and fundraiser to help Philip and his family. From this, Philip received clothes, food, and money from Christians all over Kilifi and Malindi. It was a wonderful day of true family fellowship just as Jesus intended.
A Gift from Aggies for Christ
Last year was one of the ugliest years in Kenya. We started 2008 with the post election violence which claimed lives of more than 2,000 people and displaced hundreds of thousands. This year started on a different note especially here at Maarifa. We received a gift that boosts peace. It is a manual from the Prince of peace - just what Kenya needs. We were blessed with Bibles from the Aggies for Christ group who visited us last year. Thank you friends! |
If it Doesn’t Kill then it Can Be Eaten
Kenya is facing a food crisis. The coast province, especially Malindi, Kaloleni, and Kilifi, are the worst hit areas. People are looking for anything to stuff their stomach provided that it does not kill. Roots, berries and even some leaves are all experimented with as food. Women search high and low for anything and everything to feed their families while many men spend their days searching for work. Both searches end up fruitless more often than not. Please remember Kenya in your prayers. Your support is highly appreciated. We seriously need it. |
Area-wide fellowship for Philip |
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Bible Study with Christians from Furaha church |
From Fredrick, minister to Kaloleni...
Maziachenda
Maziachenda Church of Christ is one of the strongest churches in Kaloleni. On 23rd to 24th January 2009, we had a door to door evangelism campaign resulting in six women being added to the church. On February 18th, a Bible study class was started for the new converts. We meet once every week on Tuesdays.
Kabatheni
On 5th to 7th February 2009, we had an evangelism campaign at Kabatheni. To be frank, Kabatheni was a one-family church. Most of the members had transferred to other churches or left the faith altogether. Only Mwanyaa and his family were attending Kabatheni Church of Christ. After the evangelism, I fellowshipped with them the following Sunday to see for myself the harvest. I counted forty people in attendance. They have started visitation every Sunday after service to encourage the members and I am encouraged by the fruit. |
Furaha and Neema Churches of Christ
These churches were started by Peter Charo Gunga and are doing very well. Members from these churches join their fellow Christians at Maziachenda Church of Christ every Tuesday for Bible study. God is transforming lives.
Chilulu and Rainbow Churches of Christ
Stephen Ngumbao is the leader of Chilulu Church of Christ and Russell Kitsao is at Rainbow Church of Christ. We are planning to have an evangelism campaign in this area in early March. Pray for the success of this campaign that more may know Christ!
Maarifa Academy Nursery School
This year Maarifa Academy sent 5 pupils to class one [9th grade]. Teachers at Kizurini Primary School are very happy with these pupils saying that they are easy to teach and friendly. To us this is a good report, letting us know that Miss Rose Kombe (the nursery teacher) is doing an excellent work. Currently we have 36 pupils; 24 boys and 12 girls. Parents of the pupils at the school want to introduce a feeding program.
This is because of the hunger situation in the country. Sometimes pupils absent themselves because of hunger and those who come are not active. The parents are willing to introduce the feeding program but the economy is very bad. They are asking for assistance so that they can share the expenses 50% - 50% with the well-wishers and donors. If you can help with this program, please contact us! |
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From Jaime...
Wow! Is everyone else as encouraged and excited as I am? What a wonderful report from each of the areas where INTERCEDE is ministering! If you aren’t praying for these people (specifically Max, Duncan, and Fredrick) regularly, can I ask you to pause right now and say a short prayer for them? We are so blessed to have faithful, hardworking coworkers in this ministry. I am proud to consider them my brothers and friends. |
Food Relief
God is good! As many of you know, there is a famine in Kenya and thousands of families across the country are hurting. Although it isn’t our mission or vision as an organization, we cannot ignore the cries from our brothers and sisters. As James writes, “Suppose you see a brother or sister who needs food or clothing, and you say, ’Well, goodbye and God bless you; stay warm and eat well’ - but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?” So we are doing something.
Our goal was to raise $2,800 per month through June to feed 30 families. In February alone, we raised over $3,700 to help feed the hungry on the coast of Kenya! To those who gave: thank you! To those who would like to help, please see the yellow box below and be sure to mark your donation as “food relief”. |
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Opportunities
Dear friends, there is no shortage for opportunities to help make a difference. INTERCEDE continues to do what we can. John Chengo and Jeremiah Muramba are two additional young men we will sponsor this year. John will be continuing his studies at the university level to become doctor, Jeremiah will be taking some courses in administration.
Erick, Rose, Queenter, Calno, Catherine, Pauline, Eunice, Fredrick, Timothy, Rose, Isaac, Priscilla, Kenneth, Duncan, and Liltron are young men and women who we are praying for and have plans for long-term. They hope to be school administrators, teachers, dress makers, accountants and more. We would like to train each of them in their field and then bring them onboard to help us teach others.
If you would like to know more and would like to be involved in changing the life of people around the world, please get in touch. Write us a note, we’d love to hear from you.
Lastly, please pray for this ministry and the people we come in contact with. Our desire is to share the good news of Jesus with those who do not know him and bring them into an eternal relationship with him. |
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