As we sat down to tables of blessing in the U.S. we had many reasons to rejoice with us during the time of Thanksgiving. First of all, rain is falling in Kenya after a prolonged time of drought. In addition to this…

Pastor Julius and Family

Mwingi church playground

Pastor Julius and Mary from Mukuru: they report that the porridge program continues at El Shaddai School. Julius has finished the playground up in the rural town of Mwingi and is ready to begin the next one at Ongata Rongai where Joel Kavala is pastor.

Baby Joseph Kavala

Pastor Joel Kavala and Elizabeth from Ongata Rongai: Nine months of anxious pregnancy just ended with the birth of a beautiful baby boy named Joseph. There was anxiety because Joel and Elizabeth lost an infant son two years ago. But God blessed the family with another son. Elizabeth had some complications after the birth, required surgery and had to remain in the hospital for a week. Joel’s most recent update says when Elizabeth was rushed into the operating room “she thought she will die. O Praise God today she has improved a lot no pain in her stomach and hip joint… She now can afford a smile from her face. Thanks for all those precious prayers you offered on our behalf. We have a new song in our heart about the wonders of the Lord. Baby Joseph is doing well.”

Jedidah, an older teen who has completed high school, has had her second eye operation since we left Kenya in May. She was totally amazed at the cleanness of the hospital and the good food and care she received. Pray for the next step in the life of this young woman who has lost her parents.

Pastor Pethuel from Mwingi – has completed a term of community health training along with Rhoda, a trained community health worker in their rural area. He reports, “Both Christians and non-Christians are enjoying this training very much and they are asking for the continuation of the training for more years because it is changing the community very much in their ways of interacting together with other people, i.e. non-Christians are understanding the Christians in a good way and some of them are turning to be strong Christians, others are happy because they can treat their children at home [with sicknesses] like diarrhea and understanding this sickness can be taken to the hospital. I trust that you are praying for us because of all what we are doing.”

Orphans nursery school

Pethuel and Rhoda weighed and measured the heights of the 46 children at the orphans’ nursery school where we have a porridge program that continues. This school is in an area where famine and drought have been a problem for several years. In comparing their statistics with the heights and weights I took in May, most of the children have not gained any weight and some have lost while all grew in height. This is troubling and we ask for you to pray for these dear children at risk. Pethuel wrote that they have been receiving some rain but so far, not in adequate amounts to sustain their gardens. Pray for more rain in Mwingi!

As I write this update we received an answer to prayer in the form of a donation of $5,000 to help alleviate this suffering. With this help we hope to help with food or seeds or the digging of wells.

Paul, the administrator and clinical officer of the health center in Mwingi, and his wife Mary have just been blessed with their first baby, a girl named Shalom. I’m so happy for them. Paul has difficult job of keeping a hospital going when most of the community is living without income due to the drought that is killing livestock and withering crops. Mary is in charge of both the adult and children’s AIDS programs and the mobile clinics that rotate to remote villages. Pray for the Spirit to sustain them in their ministry to this community.

Lois with James and Christine

Christine (11yrs) and James (8yrs), our special friends who we support, are doing well in school, have grown significantly and Christine’s HIV-related eye condition has improved. We can’t wait to see them again in January!

Mary Magdalene and her children

Mary Magdalene, our sister from Sudan with the women’s bead project, has a large inventory of jewelry and some of us here are trying to find ways for her to sustain a business. She has written to me, “Nothing burning our hearts like missing you in a time when I was in Langata Cemetery burying Patrick 5 years old the child of A [one of the women who rolls beads with Mary] a Congolese lady today 13/8/2009 at 12:00noon. Dear friend remember them in your prayers…” I suspect that A and her husband are sick with AIDS and I have prayed with them in Mary’s home.

“Joe & Elfi Muutuki & the Carrs

Elfi Muutuki, my prayer partner in Kenya and Pastor Joe’s wife at New City Fellowship, wrote telling me about the church’s women’s ministry among South Asians. The women have been showing a desire to have an outreach event to women in their communities. Praise the Lord for this evidence of the work of the gospel in their lives. May there be lasting fruit for God’s glory!

Pastor Joe, of New City Fellowship asked that we pray for an outreach event with a Bollywood comedian. The elders are praying for 5 new Indian families to join the church over the next 5 years.

Johnny Lever poster

NEWS FROM NEW JERSEY
(AND OTHER PLACES IN THE U.S.)…

Robert just returned from his West Coast tour and reports he had a great time visiting with old friends and seeing God work in their lives, families and working relationships. Paul says, “all over the world the gospel is growing and bearing fruit” (Col. 1:6). We praise God for new and old friendships forming around a love for Jesus and our work in East Africa. We continue to pray and labor and believe that he will supply what we need to return in 2010. Here is our current itinerary. Notice that there are still several Sundays open in January and February if you are interested in having Robert come and give a report.

Updated Itinerary for the Carrs December 2009-February 2010 (updated 11/24/09)
December 4	New Life Community Church, Stafford VA
December 6	Berea PCA, DE
December 13	Available for speaking
January 3	Robert at Men’s Prayer at Cape May Methodist Lois at New Life Dresher
January 5	Lois & Andrew return to Kenya Robert available the rest of this month for speaking engagements
February	Robert available the rest of this month for speaking engagements
February 19-21	Altadena Valley PC, Birmingham AL (Robert only)
February 24	Robert returns to Kenya

Wishing you the blessings of this Advent Season,
Robert & Lois Carr

Posted in Category: Changed Lives, Church Planter Training, Family News, Kianga Kids, Prayer Requests, Uncategorized
Posted by Lois Carr