LEAD BY THE SPIRIT…

The one who shuts his ears to the cry of the poor will himself also call out and not be answered. 

 PROVERBS 21:13

As we have traveled in India, Romania and South Africa we have seen the poor. Here in Nairobi each time we go into the city we are confronted with beggars, some blind, some lame, all needy, surrounding our car. It is so very easy to “shut your ears”.

During the Daniel Seminar in Chuluni we came face-to-face with “the poor” of Kenya. A woman who had been in the service on Sunday where Don preached approached Don before the seminar began on Monday. She told him her story: her husband could not find work and she and the entire family had not eaten in two days. Those of you who know Don know his heart was touched with compassion. Don counseled with Pastor Wingi (our host) and Pastor Mbiti (her pastor) about how best to help. We gave a few shillings to the pastors and they purchased beans and meal for her. This in no way “fixed” her problem, yet it helped that day.

Don began to hear the cry of the poor in the night. As we were leaving to return to Nairobi, Don purchased 12 bags of maise meal, a staple of the Kenyan diet. He called one of the BLM graduates who lives in a remote village to meet us on the main road. We asked to be taken to those in the area that were the neediest. We gave 2 bags each to a recently widowed man, a single mom, and a family with young children with parents in their 90s.

When we left we knew we had not “fixed” the problem of the hungry in the area. We had, however, given something. In the last month the rains have come to the area. Each family in the area around Chuluni and Kitui have planted maise (corn) and it is growing fast. However, the people we met were hungry and needed food that day.

I believe that frequently we as Americans think we have to have a “program” in place before we give anything. We are afraid the need is too great; so we can’t do anything. Frankly that is how I tend to react. God has altered my thinking.

I sense that from now on as we go about our work here in Kenya, we will be listening to the cry of the poor. We will use Godly wisdom; but we will act as the Spirit leads. 

Our prayer is that we will always listen to the cry of the poor, in Kenya and wherever God leads us. It is an honor to serve a God that hears our cries!


In HIS service,
Don & Becky Cameron    

DANIEL COMES TO CHULUNI...

One of the main reasons we are working with Biblical Life Ministries is to follow up with the graduates of the Bible School in a Briefcase.  We have spent the last seven months developing resources,  holding seminars and showing The Jesus Film in the areas where the BSIB training has been held. 

The Daniel Seminar is a three day in-depth study of the book of Daniel that Don wrote.  He also developed a study manual to go along with the teaching.  We strongly believe that the only way to prevent false teaching from invading the church is to teach what the BIBLE says.  This is extremely important in the area of Biblical prophesies and the study of “end times”.  

 

The Daniel seminar in Kibwezi (October 3rd-5th) went so well that we decided to offer it to the BISB graduates and local pastors in the Kitui area.  We held it in Chuluni because we had been well received in this outlying area earlier this year, and also because they do not normally have teachers come to this area.  We had 34 students register; 13 of those were BSIB graduates.  It was a great three days of learning and interaction.  Our numbers were not large, but the Word of God was mighty!

It is so rewarding to see pastors and church leaders grow as they study the Bible.  This seminar equips them to stand strong against false teaching.  It reinforces what they were taught in Bible School and gives them material to teach others.

In 2012, we plan to hold the Daniel Seminar in Malindi and Kilifi.  We need to raise funds for food, transport, lodging and materials.  Thankfully the cost of the seminar averages only around $1,500 US each.  The benefits are PRICELESS! 

Blessings,

Don & Becky

A FULL DAY!

One of the things we enjoy best about our work here in Kenya is visiting in the churches of the graduates of Bible School in a Briefcase (BSIB).  On Sunday morning, October 30, we left home around 6:30 AM headed to Pastor Peter Mbiti’s church in the small village of Nzewani, a two and half hour car ride and many miles off the paved road. 

   

Don & Pastor Peter

We arrived in plenty of time for Don to preach.  It was good to be able to return for a service at Pastor Peter’s church.  We had worked with him earlier this year when we showed The Jesus Film in his village.

 

As we visit the BSIB graduates, we are excited to find that many of their churches have grown and many are having to expand.  Peter’s church has no doors or windows and very little space. 

But when we looked behind the building we saw the foundation of his building.  The members have made the bricks for their own church.  The people have taken ownership and are building their church themselves.

Our next stop that day was to check on the preparations for the Daniel Seminar in the neighboring village of Chuluni.  We found everything in order, so we were set to return to Chuluni the next morning for the three day seminar.

Around 4:30 PM we headed to our guest house a 30-minute ride to the larger city of Kitui.  It was a full ten hour day; but a good day!

Thank you for taking time to read some of what God is doing here in Kenya!

Next blog will be coming soon, “Daniel Comes to Chuluni!”

Blessings,

Don & Becky Cameron

TEXAS BOUND….FOR NOW!

As a mother, grandmother, sister and friend I am sooooo ready to be back in Texas!  As a missionary I am sad to leave Kenya even though we will return in January!

We leave Nairobi for Texas on Sunday, November 20th.  We will be with our sons and family in Prosper, Texas, on Thanksgiving Day.  The next Saturday (November 26^th) we head to Colorado for training.  On our way we will stop in Memphis, Texas, and greet First Assembly of God Memphis.  These dear saints support us monthly.  We are so excited that we will finally get to meet them in person to share what God has done! 

In Colorado we will attend cross cultural training at Mission Training International.  The training lasts three weeks.  We are looking forward to what we can learn and use here in Kenya.

We return to Texas on December 17^th.  We plan to attend our home church, LakeShore Church in Rockwall, Texas, on Sunday, December 18^th.  That afternoon we will attend Zach Brown’s Eagle Scout Court of Honor.  Zach came to Kenya with us in July of 2010.  We are so glad we will be there to honor his accomplishment.

Our plan is to see as many of our family and friends while we are in Texas.  We have so much to share about what God allowed us to do and what we believe He is directing us to do when we return.  Please let us know when you are available to share coffee, a meal or just a few minutes.   We return to Kenya on January 10, 2011.  The best way to reach us is via my email at beckyc@biblicallife.org. 

One of the things we are most thankful for this Thanksgiving is how God has knitted our hearts together with friends and family to be His missionaries.  We have been so privileged to minister to the people of Kenya.  Your prayers and giving make it possible.  These past seven months have been by far the most rewarding of our lives.  We are thankful God has seen fit to use us and there is so much more to do.

We join Paul as he wrote…

And we have such trust through Christ toward God.  NOT that WE are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything being from ourselves but our SUFFICIENCY is from God.

(2 Corinthian 3:4-5 emphasis mine)!

Hope to see “y'all” soon!!!

Don & Becky Cameron

DANIEL CAME TO KIBWEZI!

DON TEACHING

What a great time we had in Kibwezi for the Daniel Seminar!!! Originally we offered the class to graduates of Bible School In a Briefcase only, however we received so many inquiries, we decided to offer it to anyone who was interested. The first day every seat in the church was taken! We had to have 20 additional copies of the manuals made! By the last class on Wednesday, we had over 80 registered! We fed lunch to everyone, plus some of the poor in the neighborhood, each of three days. God really stretched our supplies!

The participants were very interested to learn more about Daniel and especially the prophecies concerning the end times. This study is equipping the people with what the Bible says will help protect them against false teachings. There was much interaction between the participants. We also witnessed the healing of relationships among the pastors of different denominations as they came together to learn from the Bible. That fact alone made our time worthwhile.

DANIEL SEMINAR
KIBWEZI, KENYA

We left Kibwezi encouraged by what God had done in the lives of the pastors and participants of the class. Not only had they heard the Word of God, they were now more equipped to share the truth of the Bible in their village and beyond.

October 31st-November 2nd we are taking the Daniel Seminar to Chuluni a small village near Kitui. We do ask that you lift us in prayer that God will use us there to His glory.

Blessings,
Don & Becky Cameron

BACK TO THE MOUNTAIN

The Sunday we were in Kibwezi prior to the Daniel Seminar, Don returned to Mbuinzau (White Goat Mountain) to preach at Pastor Joseph Musyoka’s church.  This was Don’s third visit.  We first climbed the mountain in October 2011, and we returned in May with 40 Bibles that our friends had donated. 

MUSYOKA LEAVING CHURCH

On his way up, Don stopped to visit Pastor Joseph’s home.  He has the only church on the mountain and he lives very simply among the people.  Don was touched by his hospitality and humble home.

PASTOR MYSYOKA'S HOME

After Don preached, Pastor Musyoka extended an opportunity to accept Christ as Savior and two men came forward for Salvation!  One of our main goals here in Kenya is to maintain relationships with the graduates of the Bible School in a Briefcase (BISB) and to encourage and equip them to reach their own people.  Don was privileged to see first hand some of the “fruit” from the seeds planted into the life of Pastor Musyoka by Bible School In a Briefcase. 

Climbing a mountain on Sunday morning isn’t Don’s usual Sunday morning activity; but so worth it that Sunday!  Nothing can compare with being used by God!  These are the perks to being on the mission field!

Please pray for all the BISB graduates as they serve and equip the believers to reach the entire nation of Kenya.  The knowledge they gained from BISB is changing Kenya!

Blessings,

Don & Becky

P.S.  Next time, The Book of Daniel Seminar in Kibwezi.

SOLO BUT NOT ALONE!!!

Sunday, October 2, 2011 was a big day for me.   When we were in Kibwezi in September I agreed to preach in Pastors Esther and Shadrack Maunda’s church while Don went to White Goat Mountain to preach.  For weeks I PRAYED, and thought, and PRAYED some more about what God wanted me to share.  Thankfully God answered and I felt I was prepared. 

When I awoke on Sunday I saw flashing “lights” in my eyes and realized that I was having a classic migraine headache.  Thankfully as we left Nairobi on Saturday I had thrown in my medication “just in case”!  God definitely went before me.  I texted friends for prayer and left for the church.  The pain was intense but God was stronger!!! 

I was so impressed with the children Pastor Esther has trained.  They had memorized Scripture and were standing and reciting the verses in their tribal language.  I read to the children the book, The Lost Sheep, about how Jesus always searches for them if they were “lost” and straying from Him.  During the adult Sunday School time I encouraged them to read the Bible for themselves, or have someone read it to them.  I also taught the SOAP (Scripture, Observation, Application and Prayer) method of study. 

During praise and worship some of the children joined in.  It was great to worship with them.  By that time I was amazed that I was still on my feet.  God is so good.  I shared with the people about forgiveness and praying “God, meet their needs”.  These are all things God has shown me and continues to guide me through.

After service the children helped me practice my Kiswahili.  They are such good instructors!  As we left the church I walked hand in hand with the children back to our guest house.  I was so grateful to God for healing my headache and supplying all my needs that day.  He is so good.  That evening Mama Joyce from the church brought a chicken (alive) to thank me for blessing her during the service.  Pastor Esther cooked it for us the next evening.  I was truly honored. 

My first solo service was a testimony to what God can and will do when we look to Him!  It was a great privilege to share with them.  All my study and prayer was rewarded, and I am confident that God will continue to use what He has done for me to bless others.

Please pray for the people of Kibwezi that they will grow and mature and lead others to Christ.  Thank you for your prayers for us as we continue our work here also. 

Blessings,

Becky Cameron

PS: Don’s report on White Goat Mountain coming soon.

SERVING LOCALLY

It never ceases to amaze me how many opportunities we have here in Kenya to teach the Bible.  We have not only taught BSIB graduates, but God has given us additional opportunities to serve others here in Nairobi as well.



Last November Don met Vincent, a young Baptist seminary student.  Recently he met with Don and invited us to have lunch in his home and visit a home church he has planted at a tea and coffee plantation not far from our home.  We were very honored to visit in his home, share a meal and then go and visit the home church on the plantation (see photo).  There were 19-20 people in this tiny room, the Spirit of God was there, and we were encouraged to see the people eager to testify to what God was doing in their lives. 

   

Then on the last Monday and Tuesday of September, Don taught Old Testament Survey to seminary students in the Pangani slum here in Nairobi.  The school was founded and led by a Koran missionary who attends the bi-monthly Bible study in our home and lives two doors down from us.  There were about 40 pastors in attendance who have had little formal training.  What a challenge Don had trying to summarize the entire Old Testament in only 10 hours of lecture! I think the instructor and the students alike all learned a lot in those two days. 

Also in September I found two local ladies Bible studies to attend.  Having left such a wonderful group of ladies back in Texas, it was so refreshing to again study the Word of God with other women.  Both groups have women who have been on the mission field for many years.  One lady in particular came to Africa as a missionary the year I was born!  I was polite enough NOT to point that fact out to her!  She has given her entire life to ministering to the people of East Africa.

We want to say "THANK YOU" to all of you who have been praying and giving to help us work here in Kenya over the last SIX months!  It is amazing what we have seen God do through us!  We do know that without the love, prayers and support of our family and friends this outreach would not be happening.  Please know we are grateful and we do thank God for you!!!

Your missionaries in Kenya,

Don & Becky Cameron

P. S. In a few days I’ll post the report from our time in Kibwezi!

WATCHING GOD WORK!!!

September was another busy month here in Kenya. 

The first weekend of September we traveled to the remote village of Enguli to preach at BSIB graduate Pastor Kinyalili's church. The "road" after we left the tarmac highway was long, bumpy and dusty. Thankfully it only took stopping for directions once and having a piki-piki (motorcycle) driver lead the way to find the church. We had about 180 people in church that day, and we all had a great time worshiping and sharing the Word of God together.

After sharing a typical Kenyan meal with them, we continued on to the village of Kibwezi where we met with Pastor Maunda to finalize the plans for a three day seminar on the book of Daniel in early October. Don and Pastor Maunda also traveled to a neighboring village to pray for the pastor of the church that will host the seminar who was in the hospital. They were so glad they went. After they prayed, God began to heal and strengthen his body immediately and the hospital sent him home that very day.

We enjoyed our time in Enguli and Kibwezi. God is knitting our hearts with the people of this area. We always enjoy returning to fellowship and share times of learning in the Word

Next week I'll share about other opportunities God has given us to serve in and around our home here in Nairobi. God has blessed us in allowing us to be part of His work. We are also very thankful to all of you who have prayed, given and encouraged us. We are humbled and grateful.

Serving God in Kenya,

Don & Becky Cameron.

DON'S REPORT...

As the time approached for Kelly and I to travel to Nyamira, I began to get more and more excited about the beginning of the Bible School. Since returning to Kenya in April this year, Kelly and I had made a trip to meet with prospective students for the school. Becky and I then returned to collect applications in June while Kelly was in America for the BLM board meetings.

In the interim, Becky and I had spent 9 days in the Kitui area with evangelism and discipleship training. While working there we received very little rest, and so it took us a few days of recovery before I could even think about packing up for Nyamira. Then Kelly got ill about 2 weeks before the Bible School was to start. Even though still very ill, he decided to continue as planned.

SCHOOL BEGINS...

We arrived in Nyamira on Sunday, August 14^th.  Even before we reached the guest house, we were greeted by several of the pastors that were to be in the school who were very eager to get started.

Monday morning started very early for me. I left Kelly in bed so that he could save his strength for the official commencement of the school at noon. I had to oversee the final preparations of the kitchen, buy firewood and charcoal to cook with, get the church set up for the classes, find a store to buy books for the pastors to take notes in, find another table to use in the kitchen, get jugs to carry water, etc. By the time I picked up Kelly just before 11am, I felt like I had already put in a day’s work.

As pastors arrived and registration began all tiredness left. There was such excitement in the air. We ate lunch to-gether (beans and chapatti), fellow-shipped, and then all went back into the church to sing and praise God in anticipation of the first class at 2pm. It was a great day.

Kelly taught class all day Tuesday and Wednesday and got weaker and weaker. After class Wednes-day, I suggested to him that I drive him back to Nairobi the next day, but he wanted to try and finish the week. On Thursday morning, he was so weak that he agreed to leave.

It is now more than 1 week since we returned home, Kelly has found a new physician, started new therapy and he is finally getting better. Praise God. However he has not regained his strength enough to return to Nyamira for the September class.  Please pray that he will regain his strength soon.  He was much sicker than any of us realized and it may take some time for him to recover fully. Your prayers are greatly appreciated for him and for the pastors who are eagerly awaiting the return of the Bible school.

This Sunday Becky and I will visit Pastor Kinyalili Kivindyo's church about two hours from Nairobi where we will minister to his church.  From there we travel to Kibwezi for two days of preparation for our three day seminar on the Book of Daniel scheduled for October 3rd - 5th.

We thank you for your continued interest in the work we are doing here.  We feel even more that we are exactly where we need to be.  Thank you to those who help us continue our work!

Blessings,

Don & Becky

THE JESUS FILM…

Some of you remember how we started using The Jesus Film in Kiswahili last year during our three month stay in Kenya.  We brought the DVD with us from the US and when we arrived we found we could show it in the villages as an evangelistic tool.  We shared the opportunity with a few friends via email, they shared with some friends, and within a few days the money for the equipment was raised and we had funds for the outreaches.  God definitely provided!!!

After we completed the two-day discipleship classes in Kitui last month, we arranged to show the film in three different locations on consecutive nights.  Our first showing was on Wednesday in the village of Chuluni.  Pastor Ambrose Wingi, Pastor Peter Mbitit and Pastor Jossy Mitau met us in Chuluni that afternoon.  We loaded the 3 pastors, an amplifier, microphone and a car battery into the backset of our car.  They strapped a bull horn speaker to our luggage rack on top, fed the wires through the window and off we went!  For close to two hours as Don drove slowly over the winding dirt roads the three pastors took turns announcing the coming of the “cinema” in the Chuluni town square that evening.  By the end of the 2 hours we had covered the entire area.  This method of advertising was new to Don and me, but it sure worked.  By nightfall over 700 people were standing in front of the screen viewing the two hour story of Jesus’ life. 

The next evening we showed the film on the edge of Kitui town at the Majengo market place.  An estimated 500-600 came that night.  Pastor Veronicah Kalundi gave the alter call.  Over 100 adults came forward.

On our last night in the area we traveled many miles from Chaluni to the market place in Nzewani’. Two of the BSIB graduates have churches in this remote area.  Also, six or seven other graduates made the trip out to support the local pastors.  As it neared sundown the pastors began singing and praising God.  It was so good to see the people of the community worshiping together.  The area of Nzewani is remote so as an added treat we brought 6 bags of hard candy (sweeties) to hand out.  What's a good movie without snacks? That night we had between 1,000 - 1,200 view the film, and 150 adults responded to the altar call!

During our nine day ministry trip we trained 60 pastors/teachers in basic discipleship, gave away 60 Bibles, showed  The Jesus Film  in three villages to over 2100 people and 350 adults responded to the altar calls. 

We spent $1,920 in ministry funds for this one outreach.  We did this in faith believing that God would multiply the funds and our efforts.  We recieved news from Pastor Ambrose Wingi this week that he has had 4 NEW believers come to his church since we left.  That fact alone makes the investment in money, time and effort more than worth it!  Thank you Jesus that we could be used to grow your Kingdom!

As I write this report about Kitui, Don and Kelly Johnson are launching the newest Bible School in a Briefcase in Nyameria, Kenya, a five hour drive from Nairobi.  They will be in Nyameria for two weeks teaching five days a week.  I have remained in Nairobi to continue my Kiswahili lessons and work in the ministry office. 

Please continue to pray that those who saw The Jesus Film will respond to the message of salvation and that the teachers/pastors will equip them to become victorious Christians!

May God richly bless you as you seek to follow Him!

Don and Becky