Final preperations for Kenya trip
Thursday, March 04, 2010
Tomorrow I will leave for Kenya, after a major weather induced delay in Kenya, we are finally able to go. The rains continue and some areas are going to be very difficult to get to but God will work all that out and put us where He wants us to be.
Another complications is our in country manager, John Rompei has been very sick with typhoid fever and is getting treatments for it. I just spoke to John Shepherd via satellite phone, he says John Rompei is doing much better but is still weak. We have others who can take his place in the bush with us but it would be far better if Rompei could go as he has all the contacts we need to get into Tanzania. Please pray for his full and quick recovery.
The “northern ” leg of my journey to Kurungu is all lined up as well, praise God! I look forward to working with those folks and spreading the gospel amongst them. This trip will be my longest, lacing one day being three weeks. While that is a long time to be away from home and work, I know it will be productive and look forward to the results!
Thank-you for your prayers and for those who contributed toward the expenses of this trip! You are as much a part of this trip as I am. Please continue to pray.
Blessings,
Mike
Posted by Mike on 03/04 at 09:54 AM
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New dates
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Just got every thing firmed up. We are now leaving on March 5th and will be in the bush until March 18th. I’ll leave the team on the 18th and head back to Nairobi (while they spend a day on safari), then catch a bush flight to Kurungu on the 19th. I’ll stay in Kurungu until the 23rd when I fly back to the US arriving on the 24th.
John Shepherd just informed us that all of the team members but one are able to go on the new schedule, PTL! It look like despite the change of plans everything is coming together nicely. The main part of my trip is now fully funded and I have about half of the funds I need for the leg to Kurungu, again PTL! Thank-you to everyone who has contributed either in prayer and/or financially!
Posted by Mike on 01/12 at 10:01 PM
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Change in plans
Friday, January 08, 2010
The area of Kenya & Tanzania we will visit has been hit by torrential rains and extreme flooding this past week or so. It has washed out parts of roads and others are under water. This has made it impossible to access the area we will be visiting. As a result, after much prayer, the decision has been made to reschedule the trip for March 5th.
It looks like most of the team members will be able to make the new date, including myself. Please pray for our team as we make the changes to our schedules needed for the new sates. And especially for the people affected by the rains. That part of Africa is a land of extremes, it went from a severe drought to severe flooding in a very short time. Thank-you for your continued prayer.
Posted by Mike on 01/08 at 07:51 AM
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Flooding
Wednesday, January 06, 2010
I have received a few emails from John Shepherd over the last couple of days regarding the flooding in Maasai land. Kenya is a land of extremes when it comes to weather, from drought to flood. The recent prolonged drought has now been followed by extreme rains. The rainy season there usually doesn’t start until late March or April (we avoid planning trips in those months). The rains have brought severe flooding in many areas that we normally work and have even caused roads to wash out in some places.
John and the CRM folks in Kenya are closely monitoring the situation. We are due to leave next Friday (Jan. 5th) but if the flooding and rains remain severe it would prevent us from going into the bush. In that case we would postpone the trip. Please pray about the situation, that God will provide us clear direction on the decisions that need to be made.
Posted by Mike on 01/06 at 01:34 PM
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Trip Update
Saturday, December 19, 2009
It has been a while since I last updated the site. A lot has happened since then and I would like to bring everyone up to speed. The dates of my trip have been finalized, I will be leaving on January 15th and will return on Feb 3rd. This is a much longer trip than normal because of what I’m about to share with you.
Through a very good friend of mine, Randy Durham, I meet another missionary that has been working in Kenya, JL Williams with New Directions International. His work there includes a mission with the Samburu people. They are cousins of the Maasai and have the same language and many of the same customs. Randy arranged a lunch between the three of us and we began to share our experiences in Kenya. I did a little show and tell with the story cloth and soon JL was asking if I would be interested in going to visit his mission partner with the Samburu and share the story cloth method. After much prayer and a discussion with John Shepherd, I knew this request was of God and I agreed to go.
I will leave the team on the last day in the bush (Jan 28th) and travel overland back to Nairobi while the team heads to the park at Masai Mara. Then on the morning of Jan, 29th I will take a bush flight to Karungu (in the north sector of Kenya) and spend 4 days there. Then I will fly back to Nairobi on February 2nd for flight back to the US that night. This will add 4 days to my trip and about an additional $800 to the cost.
Speaking of cost - over $2,000 has been donated now but I still need a little over $1500 more. So if you are in a position to help, please use the form on the “support page”.
Posted by Mike on 12/19 at 05:36 PM
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Support
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
As volunteer missionary, part of the mission is to raise the money needed to pay for the expenses. Some of that comes out of my own pocket but I certainly can’t afford the total cost of the trip. In addition to fund raising events (for instance, I cook dinners for donations at the church once a month) friends, family, members of our congregation and even an occasional stranger contribute to the trip.
100% of your contribution is used for mission related expenses (no administrative fees). By contributing financially you become a part of the mission itself, helping to spread the gospel and show God’s love to the Maasai. If you are in a position to help please use this pdf form (or print this page). Make your check out to Hampstead Baptist Church. Donations to the church are tax deductible.
Mike’s Mission Trip to Kenya & Tanzania
Please return this portion with your commitment to be a partner in prayer or your donation to:
Hampstead Baptist Church
67 Factory Road
Hampstead, NC 28443
Name____________________________________________________________
Street _________________________________________________
City _______________________ State ______ Zip_________
Phone (_____)________________________
____ Prayer Partner email address: ____________________________
____ Donation $____________
Posted by Mike on 10/14 at 01:56 PM
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Prayer
Sunday, September 27, 2009
The bible teaches that we can do nothing spiritually apart from Jesus and the Father. That all begins with prayer. What is happening amongst the Maasai people is a direct result of years of prayer by many faithful servants of the Lord. As the work amongst the Maasai continues, so must the prayer!
The power of prayer
Here are some areas you can pray over:
- Workers to work in the harvest amongst the Maasai
- That God’s Holy Spirit will continue to work on the hearts and minds of the Maasai People
- For John Shephers, John Rompei and other CRM staff who work tirelessly to spread the gospel
- Spiritual growth and mentors for the new believers among the Maasai
- New Maasai churches and pastors to disciple the new believers
The prayer team
I have been blessed over the past five years with a number of “prayer warriors” who stand in the “gap” and pray for the Maasai, our teams, our families while we are gone and our travels. This is no small task. They pray daily for these things. They pray for the items on the list above but also I send them specific things to pray for in a timely manner and regular updates which contain items for prayer. If after your prayerful consideration you feel led by God to be on this prayer team, I will add you to the team (updates and requests are done my email).
If this is the case, add your email address to the prayer mailing list on the little form in the right hand column of this page. Even if you do not currently feel led to make the commitment to be on the prayer team, from time to time please do pray for the Maasai using the list above.
Specific prayer requests for the upcoming trip:
- Funds to cover the expenses of the trip
- Provision for my bills and family while I’m gone (I’m self-employed)
- Preparations for the trip (physical & spiritual)
- Prepare the way for the trip to visit the Samburu
- Provide the means to overcome all obstacles that interfere with God’s will for this trip
Prayer is POWERFUL! Thank-you for your prayers!
Posted by Mike on 09/27 at 09:58 PM
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Maasai Mission 2010
As I prepare for the trip to Kenya and Tanzania January of 2010, I am reminded of when this trip began. This will be my fifth trip to Kenya since 2005 to work with the Maasai people. In 1999 when my wife and I returned to NC to live, we felt God was leading us to a “mission minded” church. I felt he wanted us to be involved in mission work, wanting to be obedient I began to pray. That like many mission experiences is where it all began, a simple prayer letting God (and myself) know I was available and willing to be used. He led us to Hampstead Baptist Church where we have been ever since. He then used a series of events and people to prepare the way for me and others from the church to minister to the Maasai people of Kenya and Tanzania. That work continues with this trip and others.
The Maasai are somewhat nomadic and live much like they did hundreds of years ago. They reside in mud huts with no running water and no electricity. they are shepherds and are very dependent on the land to provide for their livestock and themselves. Spiritually they are much like the folks in the old testament, worshiping one God whom they call Enkai Sapat, believing in covenants, practicing animal sacrifice and circumcision. They do not know that God has a son, Jesus, who loves them. They have never even heard His name until now. Over the past 10 years, Calvary Road Ministry (CRM), led by pastor and missionary John Shepherd have been spreading the gospel in Maasai land. During the past 5 years, volunteer groups have been going to Kenya with CRM and telling the gospel using the Kanga story cloth developed just for that purpose.
During the last 5 years, many thousands of Maasai people in the bush of Kenya have come to know Jesus and pray to accept Him as their savior through this ministry - PTL! For the first time, indigenous evangelical Christian churches are being established amongst the Maasai in the bush. The old men who control everything and until now have refued to listem to the gospel are not only accepting the gospel now but are encouraging and helping us to spread it wide and far. It is an exciting time to be working amongst the Maasai. There are about 1.5 million Maasai best anyone can tell (they don’t like to be counted). Over 2/3 of them live in Tanzania and now starting with this trip in 2010 we will cross the border into Tanzania and begin to spread God’s word there! This past year has brought a severe drought to the land of the Maasai. Calvary Road Ministry and its volunteers gave help feed tens of thousands of familu members during this drought,and thus showing the love of Jesus to them.
Again on this trip, as on my last in in January/February 2009, we will be camping in the bush for most of the trip/ We will enter through Kenya then travel by road to Tanzania. We will spend almost 2 weeks in the bush camping, walking and teaching at the bomas (a small group of homes). None of this would be possible if not for God’s will and the prayer of many people like yourself who. Many have prayed for this ministry over the years and helped in other ways too. While some go, it takes many who stay and support the trips through prayer, encouragement and financial assistance. I encourage you to pray about how God wants to use you in this ministry. Perhaps it is to pray daily for the Maasai and those that bring the gospel to them or to join the team that prays for our trips. Perhaps it is through giving financially to help defray the cost of the trip. Perhaps it its to go on a future trip. It is my desire that you will be blessed through this ministry and your faithfulness to Christ!
Posted by Mike on 09/27 at 03:02 PM
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