The Adventures of Paul and Sue

I am pleased to say that the October DTS ended victoriously, as they praised God through all times, challenges included. As we say in YWAM we wish “to know God and make Him known,” and we believe that we fulfilled that call, taking the gospel all over Kenya, from the east to the west.

The DTS began their outreach in an extremely remote area of Western Kenya called West Pokot. We joined with a DTS team from Romania and were blessed by having such a large team. It was an eye opening experience for students and staff alike as our team was met with many surprises. We returned to the area of West Pokot to find that the church we had left the year before, was gone completely. We were told that the congregation had fallen apart and there was only 4 members. But we know that God doesn’t look at numbers, He looks at the heart. So, we held a small service consisting of the few members and our team, but by the end of the service we had a congregation of about 40 people. We thank God for the faithfulness of few and the blessing that came from it. While there we did lots of door-to-door evangelism and speaking to people in the riverbed, the local meeting place. We came face to face with the stronghold of drunkenness in the area, and were able to tell many people of God’s greater intention for them: a life of relationship with Him, and a life free of sin. We also worked in the only school in the area and served community members by bringing them food and bathing children down by the well. We left West Pokot encouraged by the realization that God is indeed working greatly in their community.

After a week of ministry in that one area of West Pokot we split into three teams: the Romanian team, and divided our DTS group in half. All three teams went to nearby villages and towns and did various ministries including working in schools, going door-to-door, participating in house fellowships and performing and preaching on busy market days. One team, who worked in a town called “Chesta,” was faced with a challenge of finding a place to stay, as their contact in the area was unable to be found. But God provided for them greatly, as local family invited them into their home with open arms, almost immediately upon their arrival. This being one of the few challenges of the week for the teams, students were stretched and learned the importance of calling upon God in times of trouble.

In the next week one team went to a city called “Kitale” where they worked at an orphanage and participated in local house fellowships. The other team went to Mount Elgon, and area of western Kenya, which is greatly affected by rebel violence. Students, determined to minister to people on the mountain, made the climb up Mount Elgon. Students saw the people’s great need for God, as many have so little hope and believe that they have been forgotten. Many of them escaped rebel violence, or have family that were taken or killed by the rebels. We were so happy to be able to tell them of the hope, comfort, and love that is in Christ Jesus and were overjoyed to be able hear some of their stories.

In our final week of full time ministry, one team worked in the city of Kakamega and the other worked in a “bush-bush” town called “Khaunga.”  Both teams worked alongside pastors, participating in various church functions, doing door-to-door, and ministering in schools in their perspective areas. Students were challenged as their final week was packed full of scheduled ministry, causing many to have to rely completely on God for strength to finish out the week.

As the end of outreach was nearing the two teams met up and made the 30-hour long journey to the east Mombasa coast for a time of team debrief and relaxed Mombasa styled ministry. For many students it was a good time of reflection on the outreach and time of fellowship with one another as the outreach was coming to a close. Students went out in the mornings doing door-to-door with community members. It was a good and new experience for many, as some students had never witnessed to the Muslim community. Students’ eye’s were opened to the oppressiveness of Islam and were also challenged to handle their argumentative and defensive response to the Gospel. On the last day students also did ministry on the beach, singing, performing skits, and preaching the Good News to locals and tourists alike.

We thank God for all the mountains and valleys physically and spiritually that God has brought us through in these past weeks. We thank Him not only for what He did in the places we worked, but also for the transformation he did in our hearts.

“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand: and we exult in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also result in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”

(Romans 5:1-5)

This time of year is always bittersweet. As the October DTS has officially come to a close, and the February DTS now in full swing. While we were so sad to see the students from the October DTS go back home we are full of hope for the current DTS. We are looking forward to another heart-transforming experience with the new group of students and are excited to see what God does in them and through them. We appreciate all your prayers that made this last DTS successful, and we ask that you to keep lifting up our staff and the new DTS in prayer.

Thank you again,

Joram Kingori