Sunday is the Big Day

 

Hi Prayer Partners,

 

I spent last week in Huruma Slum near Nairobi.  I was there with 19 Sunday School teachers at Evangelical Victory Church.  We met in an 9' by 14' classroom that is used for Sunday School.  On Sunday morning 50 children will sit in that same classroom so that they can learn a Bible lesson. 

    

I was helping them develop skills for telling chronological Bible stories for their Sunday School lessons. They learned the different characteristics of God, the different characteristics of Satan, and the different characteristics of man.  Then they learned how to discover these characteristics in a Bible story. They practiced communicating these characteristics by telling Bible stories to each other.

 

Each teacher told his or her testimony of salvation.  All the testimonies were moving examples of the grace of Jesus saving lost people.  Five of the teachers were converted out of Islam.  Their testimonies were particularly powerful as they were resistant to the gospel message.  I was inspired by the contrast between their previous devotion to Islam and the depth of their faith in Christ now.  The Holy Spirit gave me an application to go with the inspiration.

 

At the end of the session on Friday, some of us were walking to a local restaurant in Huruma, when two Muslim men approached me.  They greeted me and when I responded with, "Great, praise the Lord,"  they said, "No, we are Muslims."  We began talking.  They had some questions about who Jesus is.  Before long they said that they needed to go to an appointment.  I told them that I hope we will be able to meet again.  After eating at the restaurant, the teachers and I emerged to meet the same two Muslims again.  Though that meeting was short, the teachers and I were reminded that the Holy Spirit is able to bring us into the relationships He wants to for God's glory.

 

Though Huruma is only about 20 miles from my home, the daily time and cost of taking public transportation made it difficult for me to travel to Huruma from my home each day so I stayed with a friend who lives near Huruma.  These are some of the people that I met and witnessed to during the week as I traveled from my friends home to the conference.

     

Prayer Requests

1. Sunday is the Big Day that we launch the new curriculum.  Please pray for the Sunday School Teachers at EV Church as they begin to use the Chronological Bible Storying Method in Sunday School.    The goal of this curriculum is to lead the children to Christ and then to give them a firm foundation of discipleship so that they will grow up to be "Warriors for Christ".
2. Please pray for the two Muslim men that Alan witnessed to, that they will have more opportunities to hear about Jesus and come to know him as Savior.
3. Please pray for us as we continue to work on writing the curriculum for the Sunday School.  Each month we will be writing and developing the material to be used the following month.
4. Please pray the Holy Spirit will move donors to send the funds necessary for us to pay our electric bill and rent and to buy the few household items that we are still lacking after our recent move to our new house.  You can see a list of the items we still need on our website http://www.byhisgrace.cc/flemingfamily/needs.html 
5. Thank you to all of those who donated last month and for God's marvelous provision in our being able to find "good deals" on what we needed to buy.  We got a queen size bed frame for $25, 6 table lamps for an average of $3 each, a printer-$15, cutlery-$5, curtains for the WHOLE house-$60, and others.  THANK YOU!

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THANK YOU for your continued PRAYERS and SUPPORT
Alan, Leah, Abbey, Connor and Ross Fleming

 

To DONATE  to our ministry with the Borana People go here
http://www.byhisgrace.cc/flemingfamily/donations.html

 

To FIND OUT more about us and our Ministry to the Borana People go here
http://www.byhisgrace.cc/flemingfamily/

The Cattle on a 1000 Hills an Amazing Story of GOD's Provision

The Cattle on a 1000 Hills - I took our computer in to the shop this week and was told that it  would cost $275 to get it fixed. When I went back to pick it up, it was not ready. I patiently waited for 3 hours. When I got ready to pay they said that it would only be $150, a 40% discount because I had to wait.  That is when God reminded me, all the money in the world is His, even the non-Christians' money.  He can give us the resources we need, and can choose whomever He wants to give it.  (The shop owner is not a Christian). God is so fantastic!

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Ministry - 1) Leah will be leading a session at a Parenting Conference at Evangelical Victory Church (EVC). 

2) Alan will be leading a one week conference on Chronological Bible Storying (CBS) at EVC.

3) We are continuing to work on the CBS Sunday School Curriculum.

4) Learn more about CBS at our website. www.byhisgrace.cc/flemingfamily/chronologicalbiblestorying.html

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Housing - There is a flat below the flat where we are currently living. Previously the owner was asking for $400 rent.  The owner is now offering it for $200 with a one-year lease.  Because we are hoping to travel to the US for furlough later this year we are hesitating to sign a one-year lease. Furniture - We have some household items we need if we are going to be able to move to our own place:  We need a refrigerator and beds at the very least.  It would also be nice if we could get some chests of drawers and dining room furniture.

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Prayer Requests: 

1) Pray for Alan and Leah as they prepare to teach in April.

2) Pray for Alan and Leah as they work on the CBS Sunday School Curriculum for EV Church.

3) Pray for our decision about whether to move into the flat downstairs or look for another rent house.

4) Pray for God to provide the resources we need to purchase what we need to move.

5) Pray for The Children's Officer to get his report filed in the court before the end of March.

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Thank you for your faithfulness to pray for us, Alan, Leah, Abbey, Connor and Ross Fleming

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For Donations -  http://www.byhisgrace.cc/flemingfamily/donations.html

Our Home Page http://www.byhisgrace.cc/flemingfamily/

EVERYONE is now OK

Dear Prayer Partner,

 

Thank you SO MUCH for praying for our friend and his co-workers.

EVERYONE is now safely out of the dangerous situation.  As God

reminds you in the coming weeks, please remember to pray for them

as they try to process the ordeal they have been through.

 

Thanks for being there to life up prayer support for those doing the

work of the Kingdom, May God bless all that you do today and everyday.

 

The Fleming Family

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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THANK YOU for your continued PRAYERS and SUPPORT
Alan, Leah, Abbey, Connor and Ross Fleming
 
NEW BLOG FOR OUR PRAYER REQUESTS
http://www.byhisgrace.cc/flemingfamily/prayer.html

 

To DONATE  to our ministry with the Borana People go here
http://www.byhisgrace.cc/flemingfamily/donations.html

 

To FIND OUT more about us and our Ministry to the Borana People go here
http://www.byhisgrace.cc/flemingfamily/

Prayers are working

Dear Prayer Partner,

 

Thanks for praying for my friend. 

 

My friend and his family got out and are safe.  Another co-worker is on a flight

as I write this, so she is on her way to safety.

 

The co-worker with family has tickets for in the morning (Monday p.m. for the US).

 

There is one co-worker who is still waiting on a Visa and my friend says that the situation

is deteriorating.  There are many false allegations in the news media and it is not helping

the situation.  Let me remind you that they have been receiving death threats.

 

Please continue to pray for the last co-worker that he will be able to get his Visa

and get out before the situation escalates anymore.

 

Blessings,

Leah

 

 

 

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THANK YOU for your continued PRAYERS and SUPPORT
Alan, Leah, Abbey, Connor and Ross Fleming
 
NEW BLOG FOR OUR PRAYER REQUESTS
http://www.byhisgrace.cc/flemingfamily/prayer.html

 

To DONATE  to our ministry with the Borana People go here
http://www.byhisgrace.cc/flemingfamily/donations.html

 

To FIND OUT more about us and our Ministry to the Borana People go here
http://www.byhisgrace.cc/flemingfamily/

SOME are OUT, Others still need prayer

THANK YOU SO MUCH for you prayers.

 

We have just received word that our friend's family has been evacuated out of the country where they were in danger.  They are in a safe country awaiting another flight that will take them to a place where they will get debriefing and counseling before returning to the US.   Let me clarify that the country where the trouble is, is NOT Kenya.  Sorry for that confusion.

 

HOWEVER, there are also 3 co-workers and one co-worker's family who are still waiting to get out. 

So please continue to pray for them.

 

Since it is on the news I am at liberty to give a few more details.  These friends work for an NGO that does water drilling projects.  The government raided their compound and when they found Bibles in the NGO office they decided to expel all the Expat workers with that NGO.  The Expat also received several death threats.  

 

The coming days will be trying for them.  They were allowed to return to their home and pack a few small bags.  But they have had to leave most of their "worldly possessions" behind.  More importantly they have left a "work" that they most likely will not be able to return to and that will be hard to deal with.

 

Please continue to pray for them as they go through "debriefing" to try to process the experience they have just encountered.

 

I will let you know as soon as the other workers are out.

 

Blessings,

The Fleming Family

 

 

 

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THANK YOU for your continued PRAYERS and SUPPORT
Alan, Leah, Abbey, Connor and Ross Fleming
 
NEW BLOG FOR OUR PRAYER REQUESTS
http://www.byhisgrace.cc/flemingfamily/prayer.html

 

To DONATE  to our ministry with the Borana People go here
http://www.byhisgrace.cc/flemingfamily/donations.html

 

To FIND OUT more about us and our Ministry to the Borana People go here
http://www.byhisgrace.cc/flemingfamily/

URGENT PRAYER (08)

We have a friends who are in a life threatening situation and

REALLY NEED your prayers. 

Sorry we cannot share more details,  PLEASE pray for them.

 

Blessings,

The Fleming Family

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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THANK YOU for your continued PRAYERS and SUPPORT
Alan, Leah, Abbey, Connor and Ross Fleming
 
NEW BLOG FOR OUR PRAYER REQUESTS
http://www.byhisgrace.cc/flemingfamily/prayer.html

 

To DONATE  to our ministry with the Borana People go here
http://www.byhisgrace.cc/flemingfamily/donations.html

 

To FIND OUT more about us and our Ministry to the Borana People go here
http://www.byhisgrace.cc/flemingfamily/

What a difference $10 can make! (08)

Dear Prayer Partner,

 

$10-What can we do with $10. 

$10 will feed the Fleming Family for a whole day.

$10 will give us enough petrol to drive to Evangelical Victory Church and Back-TWICE

$10 will pay our cooking gas bill for a whole week.

$10 will pay our internet bill for a whole week.

 

Your $10 donation can help us stay here so that we can see the Borana People come to

know Jesus as their Savior.  Can't you join our Financial Support Team and commit to

sending us $10, $15 or $20 every month.  Invest in the eternity of the Borana People.

To donate by check or PayPal, please go to the following web site. 

http://www.byhisgrace.cc/flemingfamily/donations.html

 

Answers to Prayer:

1) After having to take care of several unforeseen details, all of our documents are in at the US Embassy and we are just waiting for them to process our fingerprints through the FBI.  This should take about 5 weeks.

2) We had a Fantastic 3-day VBS at Evangelical Victory Church.

3) Abbey got her driving license.

We had a nice Christmas and a very Happy New Year!  Our babies love making Christmas cookies.

   

Prayer Requests:

1) Borana Prayer Team-We are still trying to increase our prayer support. We have set a goal

of 1000 prayer partners.  We are now at 341.  Please ask for God to increase our prayer support and ask your friends if they would like to pray for our ministry.  We faced many difficult challenges when we lived up north.  Satan does not want us to be able to live there and work among the Borana.  Our prayer support base is a VITAL part of our ministry.

 

2) Chronological Bible Storying Conference-We are in the process of planning a Chronological Bible Storying Conference for Evangelical Victory Church.  Pray for the conference and the planning of it to go well.

 

3) Salvation-Please continue to pray for the salvation of the children who attended the VBS in December.  200+ children responded positively to the invitation and we need to follow up with these kids to determine which ones are really ready to make this important decision.

 

4) Adoption-Please continue to pray for our adoption.  We anticipate the Embassy approving our I-600 before the end of February.  Pray that it will be approved. If it is approved, we should be able to schedule a court date for our case to be heard by the Kenya Government.

5) Housing-We have been house sitting for a friend who is in the USA on furlough.  He will return in the middle of March.  We need to find a new place to live and be able to pay the rent.  We also need to buy some furniture. 

 

6) Vehicle-We have just returned the car we have been borrowing.  So we now need to acquire a vehicle.  We are excited about our work with Evangelical Victory Church in Huruma, but it is a 45 minute drive for us to get there.  If we take public transportation we will easily spend 2 hours getting there, in other words, 4 hours round trip.  It will be a much more efficient use of our time if we have our own vehicle and can travel there directly.

 

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After a busy holiday season we are going to continue our series on living in Kenya.

This week's feature is the cost of living in Kenya.  Some things in Kenya are much cheaper than the US and others are much more expensive than the US.

 

Foods

Avocados-$0.07 each

Pineapples-$1.27 each

Roma Tomatoes-$0.07 each

Bananas-$0.07 each

Hamburger Meat-$2.33 per pound (but we buy things by the kilo here, not the pound)

Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast- $4.10 per pound

32 oz Jar of Mayonnaise-$4.53

16 oz Jar of Pickles-$4.27

Minced Pork (for sausage)-$4.69 per pound

Store Bought Milk-$3.86 per gallon

 

Travel

Gasoline-Currently $3.34 per gallon.  During the last oil crisis it reached $4.59 per gallon.  The current cost of gasoline is very close to what it has been for most of the time we have been in Kenya.

Cheap Hotel-A very simple hotel room with a 3/4 size bed (half way between double and twin) can be as low as $1.30 per person.  These are mainly "up-country" NOT around Nairobi.  Of course you can find the very expensive, "Hilton" kind of hotels here also. 

 

Utilities

Electric-Our average bill is $125.  This is for only the very basic appliances, TV, Computer, Microwave, Refrigerator and Washing Machine.  All of our lights are florescent energy saving bulbs.  We have NO clothes dryer, electric kettles, air conditioning, hot water heater, freezer or any other high electric using appliances.  And yet our electric bill is still that high.

 

Cooking Gas-Our gas is propane and we buy it in refillable bottles, much like you do for portable outdoor grills in the USA, except the ones we buy are larger since we use them to cook every day.  Our gas bill averages $35.00

 

Water-Our water use is for washing dishes, clothes and bathing.  Averages $56 per month.

 

Internet-$38.96 per month, unlimited, but very slow, 115.2 kbps. At least that is the speed it is listed at, but I believe it is much slower than that.

 

May the Lord bless you and keep you until we meet again.

The Fleming Family

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THANK YOU for your continued PRAYERS and SUPPORT
Alan, Leah, Abbey, Connor and Ross Fleming

 

To DONATE  to our ministry with the Borana People go here
http://www.byhisgrace.cc/flemingfamily/donations.html

 

NEW BLOG FOR OUR PRAYER REQUESTS
http://www.byhisgrace.cc/flemingfamily/prayer.html

 

 

To FIND OUT more about us and our Ministry to the Borana People go here
http://www.byhisgrace.cc/flemingfamily/

Christmas VBS-A Great Success-08

Praise the Lord for the fantastic VBS we had at Evangelical Victory Church in Huruma.

PRAYER REQUESTS
1) Pray for the salvation of the children who attended.
2) Pray for the teachers who work with them every Sunday morning. (Peter, Mariam, Liban, Barakat, Jaltu, Mariam#2, Branu, Solomon, Samuel, Dima, Anne, Sarah, Salad, Safia, Martha, Dichi, Ganu. )
3) Pray as we and the teachers follow up with these children over the next few months that we will be able to lead EVERYONE of them to salvation.

CHRISTMAS VBS
We started on Monday, December 29th. We had 200+ 2-5 year olds from 10:00 to 12:00 and 230+ 1st grade to 8th grade from 2:00-5:00 for 3 days. We met in 7 different classrooms with about 17 Kenyan teachers.

Leah was the director and Connor was in charge of making sure all the kids moved from one class to the other without getting mixed up (possibly the most challenging job of the week.)Abbey and Alan were both in charge of the crafts classes. Because the church only has 6 classrooms. We divided the sanctuary up into four sections. We used pews to make squares for each class. The church also does not have tables, so we used the pews/benches for desks to do the craft work.

The emphasis for the week was Angels. The first day we told the story of the creation and fall of the angels. On the second day we told the story of the Angel appearing before Zechariah and announcing the birth of John the Baptist. Then on the third and final day we told the story of the Angel appearing to Mary and announcing the birth of Jesus.

The memory verse class was upstairs in the balcony of the church. The children were taught 3 memory verses and SIX Characteristics of God. The photo above is the Memory Verse class working on the SIX Characteristics of God. They are demonstrating "God is All Powerful". The first photo below is of the music class, where the children were taught songs. In the photo below they are singing and jumping, but also posing for the camera. As you can see they enjoyed this class very much. The second photo below is of the ladies preparing the noon-time meal for those working in the VBS.

On the last day we had an Evangelistic Emphasis Story. Abbey and Connor and some other children acted out the story as Leah told it.

We had an overwhelming positive response to the question "Do you want to accept Jesus as your Savior?". So many responded that we will be following up with these children for the next few months to confirm the ones who are really ready to make that decision. We want to make sure that they were not just raising their hands because their friend was raising his hand.

It was a tiring but also very exciting week. Praise the Lord for all that He did for it was HIS work that made it a success ! !

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THANK YOU for your continued PRAYERS and SUPPORT
Alan, Leah, Abbey, Connor and Ross Fleming

PRAYER REQUESTS
http://www.byhisgrace.cc/flemingfamily/prayer.html

DONATIONS
http://www.byhisgrace.cc/flemingfamily/donations.html

MEET THE BORANA PEOPLE
http://www.byhisgrace.cc/flemingfamily/borana.html