Note from Kenya,
"The joy of the Lord has
continued to shadow our lives as we take time reflect on the big
progress that was accomplished for our Lord in the camps. I am glad that
what the children learnt in the camps will; continue to live in them
and we hope to see the children live for Christ.
Meanwhile many children
and parents continue to give good testimonies about the camps. I have
heard of a testimony of a child who has
influenced the parents to always pray to God before they go to sleep,
something that never used to be in their family. As well parents report
of changed behaviors in their youths especially at this time when they
are out of school. Thanks to God for all the achievements done; many
families will have reasons to thank God for their children lives."
~Pastor Eliazar
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Friday, December 21, 2012
Dear Kenya Prayer Team,
I returned safely last night about 6pm from my 8,000 mile "commute to work". I really enjoy the job of sharing Christ in Kenya. I struggle to find words to describe God's work that I witnessed. Even though this was my 18th trip to Kenya since 2001, participating in the camp program was a different experience. It was absolutely amazing to see how God worked in the 3 camps. To see a child, with joy on his face, take off a tattered shirt with holes and put on a new camp t-shirt was one thing I will never forget. Many have never owned anything that was new. The Kenyan staff worked so well together, even though many of them had never done anything like this before. What a privilege for me to be able to go and to watch God work out His great master plan.
Your prayers have made all the difference. I saw so many situations where I could tell that your prayers were the key to unlock the power of God there. I am still getting an official number from the area camp directors in Kenya, but we are realizing that over 200 trusted Christ on this trip.
I'd like to share a personal story with you. You prayed for a young girl on the camp staff who's name is Quinter. She was the only one saved in her family. God placed a burden in my heart that I should speak with that family about His great love for them. As I sat in their dimly lit home late one evening on the western end of Mfangano Island, I could sense that their hardened hearts were softening as I shared with them how they could know the peace of having their sins forgiven. Before the evening concluded, her father, mother and aunt would bow before God and trust Jesus as Lord and Savior. Her brothers refused to make that decision. Quinter's mom shared with her later that she was fearful to have the very first white person in her home, but by the end of our visit she knew that Bobby was a friend of this family through Christ. Thank you for your prayers for this family. Quinter is pictured in the camp staff photo next to me with a hat. Also pictured is her mother receiving her very first Bible. Quinter could not put into words the joy she was feeling that evening. Thank you for praying.
There is so much more I could share with you that time will not allow. I look forward to sharing more at our One Year Anniversary Dinner for Interlocking Ministries on January 15. (Watch for the invitation. Save the date on your calendar if you can come!) But know we will one day have all eternity to share these stories and victories together. Thank you so much for your partnering with Interlocking Ministries and enabling us to share the good news of the Gospel with those that have never heard.
I hope you have a Blessed Christmas!
Bobby Johnson
I returned safely last night about 6pm from my 8,000 mile "commute to work". I really enjoy the job of sharing Christ in Kenya. I struggle to find words to describe God's work that I witnessed. Even though this was my 18th trip to Kenya since 2001, participating in the camp program was a different experience. It was absolutely amazing to see how God worked in the 3 camps. To see a child, with joy on his face, take off a tattered shirt with holes and put on a new camp t-shirt was one thing I will never forget. Many have never owned anything that was new. The Kenyan staff worked so well together, even though many of them had never done anything like this before. What a privilege for me to be able to go and to watch God work out His great master plan.
Your prayers have made all the difference. I saw so many situations where I could tell that your prayers were the key to unlock the power of God there. I am still getting an official number from the area camp directors in Kenya, but we are realizing that over 200 trusted Christ on this trip.
I'd like to share a personal story with you. You prayed for a young girl on the camp staff who's name is Quinter. She was the only one saved in her family. God placed a burden in my heart that I should speak with that family about His great love for them. As I sat in their dimly lit home late one evening on the western end of Mfangano Island, I could sense that their hardened hearts were softening as I shared with them how they could know the peace of having their sins forgiven. Before the evening concluded, her father, mother and aunt would bow before God and trust Jesus as Lord and Savior. Her brothers refused to make that decision. Quinter's mom shared with her later that she was fearful to have the very first white person in her home, but by the end of our visit she knew that Bobby was a friend of this family through Christ. Thank you for your prayers for this family. Quinter is pictured in the camp staff photo next to me with a hat. Also pictured is her mother receiving her very first Bible. Quinter could not put into words the joy she was feeling that evening. Thank you for praying.
There is so much more I could share with you that time will not allow. I look forward to sharing more at our One Year Anniversary Dinner for Interlocking Ministries on January 15. (Watch for the invitation. Save the date on your calendar if you can come!) But know we will one day have all eternity to share these stories and victories together. Thank you so much for your partnering with Interlocking Ministries and enabling us to share the good news of the Gospel with those that have never heard.
I hope you have a Blessed Christmas!
Bobby Johnson
Monday, December 10, 2012
Three Camps!
The camp sessions have begun! Bobby called and said that he had that same feeling that he would get at New Life Camp on registration day. There is a lot of excitement and anticipation of what God will do this week.
They sent a boat around the island picking up kids. Just to let you know how big the island is, it takes about an hour and a half to get around the island on those boats. They have nearly 200 kids attending the camps. Each camp is hosting a different age group. The kids will sleep in the school buildings that are rented for the camps.
Praise the Lord for the 4 people who were saved during worship service on Sunday!
Please pray for the camp teachers and support staff as they run three different camp sessions in the rented school buildings.
Pray for the precious children who are attending camp this week, that God would meet them at their need and that they would grow in faith.
Pray for Bobby as he travels back and forth to the three camps, teaching.
Pray for wisdom, unity, patience, grace, and endurance.
Enjoy the pictures of Camp workers & Teacher training that were sent by email!
Thank you for joining me in prayer,
Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
They sent a boat around the island picking up kids. Just to let you know how big the island is, it takes about an hour and a half to get around the island on those boats. They have nearly 200 kids attending the camps. Each camp is hosting a different age group. The kids will sleep in the school buildings that are rented for the camps.
Praise the Lord for the 4 people who were saved during worship service on Sunday!
Please pray for the camp teachers and support staff as they run three different camp sessions in the rented school buildings.
Pray for the precious children who are attending camp this week, that God would meet them at their need and that they would grow in faith.
Pray for Bobby as he travels back and forth to the three camps, teaching.
Pray for wisdom, unity, patience, grace, and endurance.
Enjoy the pictures of Camp workers & Teacher training that were sent by email!
Thank you for joining me in prayer,
Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Saturday, December 8, 2012
God blessed the hostess & husband
God blessed the hostess and her husband. Read:
"Our Sunday service at Makira was powerful. The servant of God had a great message for Makira church and we saw 4 people accept the Lord in their lives at the end of the sharing. We later moved to the house of one of the ladies in the church who decided to host the servants of God for a lunch in her house. After all the good care she did to us, her
"Our Sunday service at Makira was powerful. The servant of God had a great message for Makira church and we saw 4 people accept the Lord in their lives at the end of the sharing. We later moved to the house of one of the ladies in the church who decided to host the servants of God for a lunch in her house. After all the good care she did to us, her
husband who joined us as we continued with our lunches had the chance
to hear about salvation from Bobby. Thank God that the husband who was
never a believer as well fully surrendered his life to the Lord. This
lady did not know that God would use her heart of welcome to reach her
husband with message of salvation. They are now a couple living for the
Lord, pray that they will continue to grow strong in the Lord."
~Eliazar Wambo, pastor at Makira
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
41 Saved on Monday
Thank you for continuing to remember Bobby and the team in your prayers. Please continue to pray for the staff training week for the three camps this week. There is also a lot of discussion about future ministry with the leaders in Kenya. Please pray for God to guide them with much wisdom.
There is great news about the trip to Kikubi. They saw 41 people turn their lives over to live for Jesus. One of them was the widow of Sausi (we had thought his name was Tausi, but were mistaken.). Sausi was the man who drowned just days after Bobby preached in September. Sausi had decided to follow Christ. Now his wife, a widow, has made that decision. Praise the Lord!
I have enclosed a photo of the widow with her children. Bobby said there were seven children. I think one might be on the mom's lap, but behind the kid in the orange shirt. This is the widow of Sausi who drowned in September. His wife's name is Susan. Susan heard Bobby share the Gospel on Monday and prayed to receive Christ. Bobby presented the family with a photo of their father. The kids said "Baba" which means Father. Bobby said that this was such a wonderful day. (For those of you who aren't used to seeing Kenyans, the girls often have their hair very short as well as the boys. It is easier to care for.)
Some people ask about how we help the needy. There are many widows, orphans, HIV patients, etc. We can't help everyone, but we are seeking God's will as we minister there. There is a book that helps us think through these things. It's called "When Helping Hurts". It helps us to think about ways to help people without hurting them in the long run. Charity is not always the answer. We know that giving them spiritual hope is the one thing we can offer freely to everyone. Here's one thing they do when we have mission teams there. They employ mainly widows to assist with cleaning & cooking for the team. This is a good way for them to earn money to provide for themselves and their children. Many of the teachers are also widows.
“[Jesus the Good Shepherd] Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” John 10:7, 9-10
Thank you for joining me in prayer,
Page Johnson
There is great news about the trip to Kikubi. They saw 41 people turn their lives over to live for Jesus. One of them was the widow of Sausi (we had thought his name was Tausi, but were mistaken.). Sausi was the man who drowned just days after Bobby preached in September. Sausi had decided to follow Christ. Now his wife, a widow, has made that decision. Praise the Lord!
I have enclosed a photo of the widow with her children. Bobby said there were seven children. I think one might be on the mom's lap, but behind the kid in the orange shirt. This is the widow of Sausi who drowned in September. His wife's name is Susan. Susan heard Bobby share the Gospel on Monday and prayed to receive Christ. Bobby presented the family with a photo of their father. The kids said "Baba" which means Father. Bobby said that this was such a wonderful day. (For those of you who aren't used to seeing Kenyans, the girls often have their hair very short as well as the boys. It is easier to care for.)
Some people ask about how we help the needy. There are many widows, orphans, HIV patients, etc. We can't help everyone, but we are seeking God's will as we minister there. There is a book that helps us think through these things. It's called "When Helping Hurts". It helps us to think about ways to help people without hurting them in the long run. Charity is not always the answer. We know that giving them spiritual hope is the one thing we can offer freely to everyone. Here's one thing they do when we have mission teams there. They employ mainly widows to assist with cleaning & cooking for the team. This is a good way for them to earn money to provide for themselves and their children. Many of the teachers are also widows.
“[Jesus the Good Shepherd] Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” John 10:7, 9-10
Thank you for joining me in prayer,
Page Johnson
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Prayer request for trip
Thank you for all of you that participated in our Christmas tree fundraiser for Interlocking Ministries. It was a great success, and we're already looking forward to doing it again next year.
I know this is a busy time of year with Christmas just a few weeks away, but would you take a few moments to pray for me as I travel to Kenya tomorrow morning, Wednesday the 28th? I am so excited to be able to participate in 3 camps to share the gospel and disciple over 300 children. This is a tremendous opportunity to influence this next generation for Christ and we must take advantage of it. God is working in the nation of Kenya, with thousands coming to Christ and growing in their faith every year. Thank you for your participation with prayers and financial support to reach this influential country in East Africa. I'm sure Page will want to send you a few updates while I'm gone. Thank you for standing with us in this way. Trips like this don't "just happen". This is a team effort. Lord willing, I'll be home before Christmas, December 20th. May God bless you this time of year.
In His Service,
Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
www.interlockingministries.org
*Do you have prayer concerns in your life that you would like to communicate to us? Our Kenyan brothers and sisters would count it a privilege as well to lift you up in prayer before our Great God.
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Christmas trees!
We will get them from the NC mountains ourselves at Thanksgiving and can deliver locally or you pick up on Saturday or the following Monday (your choice). They are USDA grade A. We have been to the farm and the best way to describe them is the "perfect" tree. There are variety of sizes. The prices are amazing and determined by the size that you choose. The trees start at $35 and wreaths at $15. We are in the north Raleigh area. Delivery is Saturday after Thanksgiving as well as that next Monday. We are not having a typical "lot" because we want to get the trees to you FRESH! Download the order form here:.https://www.dropbox.com/s/gupii9r1n0w39is/Christmas%20trees%20%28delivery%29.pdf
Your purchase will help Interlocking Ministries!
Thanks for your interest about getting FRESH Christmas trees and greenery in the Raleigh area! I have seen the tree farm... you won't be sorry. :)
We would also love some help selling. If you would like to be an "elf" for us, you can ask your neighborhood for orders, your kid's school and friends. (Just print more of the forms to carry around with you.) We hope to find a neighborhood or two that will buy lots of wreaths for their entrance, etc. But hurry, we only have two weeks!
Yes, I am pretty excited!
~Page Johnson
PS. You will see on the form that there is a "Spike Tree Stand". This stand has a spike in the middle, and our pre-drilled trees will stand upright in it securely! It holds a gallon of water too!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)