Flooding causes significant damage to school in Garissa

We have once again experienced serious flood that has left quite some destruction in our school. Please, do pray that God intervenes as we seek his face on how to do reconstruction. Below are some photos that capture what happened on Wednesday.
Blessings
Ken

School compound and classes flooded with water

Concrete Pillars for our fence pulled down

More Pillars down


Our School compound in river

Children helping to rescue some of the things that were swept from the school



Our Children playground flooded

Boys’ dormitory full of water

Our Goat shed destroyed

Our Water pump destroyed

Ken's update for APRIL 2008

Head man” Salad making mud for the wall. I was glad that the community was involved in this. All I needed to do was to mobilize them and provide iron sheets, timber and nails





















Building ready for Children—they no longer have to read under tree


















Councilor Kunyo—Munyoywaya leader showing me their water pump. They have given us land for Agriculture next to the river



























“Banana in the desert”—this is in Kunyo’s farm. We intend to train farmers on modern Agricultural practices using the farm we have been given

























Our Jesus film team had great time in Mwingi---over fifty people gave their lives to Christ




People in attendance as our JF team present the gospel

PRAISE ITEMS

Eunice did organize a successful prayer seminar last Saturday. We had people from all the churches attend. The hall was packed with people who are hungry to seek the face of the Lord on behalf of “M”.

I ministered at garissa medical college last Saturday. I was talking about “overcoming discouragement” and many indicated that they were blessed by the message---to God be the glory.

Thank God that the community has given us 30 acres of land for high school. This was done through full council approval.

Thank God for Tim’s good performance in school—he was 2nd best student in his class (just one point behind the best student). Ann is in nursery and they don’t get positions. Mary (our niece) whom we stay with was also position two in her class.


PRAYER ITEM

Pray for a very influential “M” who has challenged me for a discussion on both the Bible and the quran. Pray that I will not just win the argument but the soul.

Pray for “M” girl called “F” in our school who has a desire to know the truth. She has gone through painful experiences and is currently getting closer to the truth as a result of us being available to her in her time of need. She has requested for a bible—pray that she will have revelation as she reads it.

Pray for Land documents that we are currently pursuing with the government officers. We intend to start high school after getting these vital documents.

Our School is closing today and opening early may—pray for safety and protection of both teachers and students.

Pray that all our staff will have a burden to consistently share there faith with “M”. Pray against fear that holds people back

Pray for our Jesus film team that will be going for mission in Mwingi—many people to know the Lord.

Read Colossians 3:1-4.

The Lord richly bless you

Letters and Fundraising Information

Here are Microsoft Word files for various Letters and Fundraising Information.

Mission Partner Card

Sample Thailand 2008 Letter

Sample Africa 2008 Letter

How to Fundraise for Short Term Missions - Letter

Ken and Eunice Africa Update 2 - March

We do hope that Easter has provided you with opportunity to reflect on the great price our lord Jesus Christ had to pay for our redemption.

Josh (a friend of mine) and I went to the refugee camp to spend time with the refugees. We organized for the whole Gambela community from Ethiopia to gather for tea and celebrate Jesus. It was just great seeing smiling faces amongst these refugees who have gone through so much. Besides, they are still applying the training we gave them some time back. We have Somali people giving there lives as the Ethiopians apply the training.

Three Somali believers and I—two of them on my left are Somali Bantus. The Two of them are new converts who needs your prayer. They are H and M. Pray for A on my right to continue being fruitful.

This has been my “five star hotel” in the camp over the years—I love the place. The bed is raised floor made of mud—a good way to keep off orthopaedrician.

Tea being made for over two hundred people who attended the Friday meeting at the camp. Josh and I spoke during the three services.


Refugees giving their lives to Christ.

Beautiful Street in the camp.

Keep on praying that the glory of the Lord may cover this region as waters cover the sea.

Blessings
Ken & Eunice

Ken and Eunice Africa Update - March

It is always great to send you update. The past few weeks have been busy but the grace of the Lord has always been sufficient. We thank you for praying for our country. Yesterday, the parliamentarians past the constitutional amendment bill 2008 that will guarantee peace (humanly speaking)—we know that peace that surpasses human understanding can only come from Jesus—the prince of peace.

I decided that I could do something about Muslim children studying under tree at bula secondary---I organized for them to get iron sheets, few timbers and iron nails. Together with my friend Josh who is visiting, we decided to help the villagers in the process. We are likely to finish this project next week so the children can move in. Below is the sequence of events:

Children under tree

We are starting to put the poles up—I am really not an expert but when you are a missionary you can do everything—you know!

Salad—the head man hammering nails

We are just left with putting iron sheets and mud walls.

This morning, I had the privilege of showing hippopotamus in a river half a mile to a visiting friend (Josh). This is the picture he took. This river that is not far from home hosts lots of crocodiles and hippos.

PRAYER POINTS--Josh and I will be traveling to the refugee camp tomorrow—pray for fruitful time

• Pray that we will be able to finish building the class so that the children studying under tree may move inside
• Pray for Josh as he speaks this Friday at refugee camp and garissa teachers training college this Sunday
• Pray that children in our school may come to the knowledge of the truth
• Pray for all the workers with life ministry that they will live spirit filled lives and be focused in making Christ known.
• Pray for my discussion with one of the most influential Muslim here who has given me a challenge: he wants me to bring the Bible and he brings the Quran for us to know which is the truth. He seemed to think that I can become a Muslim—pray that the lord who revealed himself to Saul on his way to Damascus may reveal himself to “M’
• Pray for God to help us raise a spiritual movement that will see many coming to the fold of the master.
• Pray for the glory of the Lord to cover the land as waters cover the sea.

May the Lord’s face shine upon you

Update from Ken/Josh in Garissa

Good news is that i picked Josh two hours ago and will spend in the same guest house where you and Tyler spend in Dec 2004 (in Nairobi at a catholic guest house). We are heading to garissa tommorow. We are looking forward to a fruitful time with Josh.

February Update From Ken & Eunice Ochieng

We want to thank you so much for every single prayer you have uttered to God for us. We also thank you for prayers made on behalf of Kenya. Mediation talks have been going on and the negotiators have agreed that the way forward is a political solution. Continue praying that peace will prevail in this country.

As a family we have continued to experience God’s presence in our lives and we testify that his grace has been sufficient to us.

Eunice continues to lead a vibrant prayer group that is seeking God on behalf of the people around. She is also leading our HR department—pray that the Lord may give her wisdom and strength.


Tim joined standard one and is really enjoying the fact that he is in primary school after three years in pre-school. He loves the colors of his new school uniforms too. He is among the top five best students in his class. He is one of the youngest in his class.


Ann moved from baby class to Nursery and she is happy to have many friends in her class. She has poor appetite and has proved to be poor in feeding. We have to force her some times to eat. Please pray that she will begin to feed well. She is however very active both in school and at home.



Our School was blessed with a new bus after an organization donated money to the same. Our students are really enjoying this gift. We still need another bus so we don’t have to do so many trips every day. Pray that God will grant us another bus at his own time.









Our students celebrating the arrival of the new bus.





Some of our Teachers in front of the bus.


We are glad that we have build four new class rooms to accommodate the second stream for each class—we are expanding by a stream every year to take care of our growth. Below is the new building:


When construction was going on


Finished building


God has been opening doors for me to speak in a number of churches here and I thank him that I can be a vessel of reconciliation at this time when our country is so divided. Please pray that the Lord will give me utterance whenever I stand before his children to declare his oracles.
Thank you for touching garissa from so far.

We plan to set a day this week to pray and fast for friends like you. Please, let us know how best to pray for you.

Yours for the fulfillment of the great commission,

Ken & Eunice Ochieng

Interview with Ken from Garissa regarding political violence

January Update From Kenya

Greetings in the matchless name of our coming king!

The Bible makes it clearing Mathew 24:6 that before the Lord comes, we will hear of wars and rumors of wars. It is happening right here in Kenya and all over the world.

Kenya has enjoyed peace for the last 43 years since it got independence from British. Kenya has 42 tribes (each tribe has unique language and culture—Kiswahili is the national language and English is the official language) and yet the country has remained intact. It is always difficult striking the ethnic balance because as expected some tribes do see themselves as being marginalized especially in terms of resource allocation. The recent election led to explosion of deep seated suspicions and prejudice that different communities have against each other. The consequence of this is death of 500(this is official figure although it is reported that the figure is much higher) and a quarter million people displaced.

Our region has been experiencing tension but we haven’t experienced serious violence as yet—our prayer is that this place will remain calm because religious fundamentalists can take advantage of the situation and bring religious angle to the problem—this will exacerbate things here.

What complicates things for our country is that some (especially the opposition) do not want stability at the expense of truth, justice and democracy—the government has shown no signs of giving up holding to power. The church is divided than ever with some leaders being partisan. Many Church leaders seem to sacrifice Truth and justice at the altar of tribal affiliations. The work of God is slowed and I am personally disappointed (should I say frustrated) at what is happening.

Deep in the hearts of many believers, we knew that all was not going to be well after the election—in fact there were many prophecies on the same yet we believers never paid enough attention. Some of us are convinced that it is the Church in Kenya that is being judged—many leaders had adopted prosperity gospel message from the west. Salvation of souls became secondary. In the midst of all that face our country, I am persuaded that the Church in Kenya is going to come out like gold that is refined seven times ready to take the gospel to the four corners of the earth. Meanwhile, we are returning to God in Prayers, fasting and repentance. The people of this great country have proved to be resilient and I believe that when God is through with us, we will be raised to another degree of glory.

Below are some pictures in places that experienced violence:

Above are some burnt bicycles that remained after a church was burnt killing 30-50 people that had sought refugee inside

Children who have become refugees in their own country

Refugees of the clashes that has taken ethnic dimension

Pastors donating blankets to the refugees

A Pastor looks at one of the arrows that were used in shooting. Neighbors turned into enemies.

Above are some of the burnt houses.

Would you please stand in prayer for the body of Christ in Kenya. Pray also for the women, children whose houses have been burnt and there is no place to call home

We thank God for your friendship.
May he grant the desires of your heart this year

Update from Ken in Garissa, Kenya regarding election violence

What is happening in Kenya is saddening. Our Prayer is that the country will come out of this united and strong. We have been the highland of peace in a region that is identified with conflict.
The situation in Garissa was very tense four days ago but we are now experiencing relatively calm situation compared to the rest of the country--all this because of an election that observers have described as flawed.

Too sad that neighbours are slaughtering one another, churches being burned (with people inside), women and children being refugees in their own country.

Many of our Teachers and students are traped in places that have been experiencing violence--we will have to postpone the date of opening (we were meant to open next wendnesday)
We ask you to continue remembering this great country in prayer.

Come Lord Jesus Come.

Pray for Ken & family in Garissa, Kenya

Be praying for Ken Ochieng and his family in Garissa, Kenya. There is tremendous political unrest due to the recent presidential elections and alleged corruption, increasing the overall death toll to 270. Near Nairobi a church was burned with people still in the church, accounting for approximately 50 of the deaths. In Garissa, it is reported that people have been hiding in mosques to stay safe.

Ken and his ministry can come under physical attack during these periods of unrest, and it is crucial that we keep him and family in our prayers.

Transportation needed for orphans in Thailand

Pastor Timothy has a need for transportation so his orphans can get to school and for various trips with the orphans. He’s been borrowing a truck, but the owners now need it full time for their business. He wants to buy either a mini-van or pickup and convert it to a Sawngthaew. (Sawngthaew’s are the standard mode of ‘taxi’ in rural Thailand. They’re pickups with the bed covered by a ‘roof’ and seats along the sides.) Considering that many Thais live on about $200 per month and the cost of vehicles in Thailand is only slight less than here in the U.S., vehicles are very expensive there compared to Thai income.

Pullman Foursquare Church will match donations up to a total of $300, so let’s see if we can raise at least $1000 to send. 100% of the funds raised, as always, go directly to the missionaries.

We will have an offering container at the welcome center on Sunday. Please place your money there or in the offering plate, indicating that this is for the Thailand Orphan Van.

Dec. & Jan. Update from Ken in Garissa, Kenya (w/ photos)

We want to thank God for his love and faithfulness in the year 2008. This far he is Ebenezer! We have seen God work in and through us as we have sought to make him known. Our greatest priority as a family remain to know him intimately and to make him known—the process of making him known may not be as quick as we want but we have rested in him. Time and space will not allow for us to testify how God has answered our prayers this Year—it has been amazing to see him at work. We are not able to take Christmas break because of a number of things that we need to finalize before the beginning of the year. We are currently building extra classrooms to take care of more students next year. Our National Examination results have just come out and we are happy for the excellent performance of our students—our leading student has 413 marks out of 500.

Ken standing next to classrooms of Life Frontier School



Our excellent Academic Standards have caused high demand for the school—we are having to increase our intake hence the need for more class rooms—this new one is likely to be finished early January.



Through our efforts to distribute “water guards”, villagers were able to drink clean water.


Our Carmel being loaded on to a trailer—it was the best Carmel during our Annual North Eastern Province Agricultural Show—talk of ways of opening the way for the gospel!



Anna (first right) blowing candle during her fourth birthday party. She was joined by other kids including Tim (3rd right). Eunice is giving some instructions.


Please, do pray for Peter and Zakayo (our Jesus film staff) who are in missions this week screening “Jesus film”. Pray for many to know the Lord and for protection upon Peter and Zakayo.

Kenya is holding election this coming Thursday—pray that we will choose godly leaders to lead us for the next five years.

We thank you for standing with us as we seek to make Christ known among the least reached people groups.

We wish you Merry Christmas and a prosperous 2008

Ken, Eunice, Tim, Ann