Friday's Bottom Line:
Though they were far-flung over the past week or so, our team was already "in one accord," and now that they are also in one place, they are experiencing God's clear direction as one unit and are working together exceedingly well!
On Friday they... had a great lunch meeting with another co-worker; officially set up the Kenya Disciple-Makers Movement Command Center, carefully reviewing the Policy and Procedures Manual and delineating responsibilities of each member; planned for next week's several summits and decided who would lead which sessions on which topics; and prepared for Saturday's Better Together marriage seminar. WOW. God's grace has been amazing, and Friday has been a gold medal day!
Friday's Prayer Requests:
1. Each team member (Hillary, James, Mark, and Scott) to have insight and creativity in successfully completing his specific tasks over the next few days; the sum of their efforts to be greater than its parts.
2. Clear communication among team members; no confusion.
3. The Holy Spirit to speak strongly to each person at the Better Together marriage seminar on Saturday, and positive changes in their marriages to endure long after they return home.
4. Continued healing for Scott. He's still dealing with cold symptoms but seems to have turned a corner.
Friday's Details:
For a number of years, our wonderful co-worker Hellen has been - along with James and Hillary - a key leader of the disciple-making movement in Kenya. However, 25 years ago, long before we met her, Hellen's husband Symon, left her, and all that time she has been standing in faith for him to return and God to restore their marriage. A few months ago, that exact thing happened(!), and Hellen is now on a sabbatical from her TTC work so she can focus fully on rebuilding her long-severed marriage.
Today Scott had "a very productive" lunch with Symon and Hellen, and we are all praying for God to help them re-create a new marriage. Please join us in rejoicing with them!
Rev Hellen and her husband, Symon
Scott sent me an audio clip about our team's amazing Friday, saying repeatedly that the day was "very powerful" and "really productive."
Kenya Disciple-Makers Movement Leadership Team meeting (L to R: James, Mark, Hillary, My Hero)
I've mentioned how Scott is laser-focused on making TTC sustainable, and getting everything for the Kenya arm of TTC well-planned, lined out, and clearly communicated is a big step in that direction, because the Kenya team has been "out in front" as far as organizing and expanding disciple-making. It is currently the flagship of Take the Challenge internationally and is setting an example for teams of disciple-makers in other nations to follow. All that to say that we believe it's strategically important that we "get it right" in Kenya. Now and always we give God the credit for guiding our team to do just that.
Scott said, "We're getting everything in order, and everyone is so moved by the opportunity to become TTC missionaries." This will basically be TTC saying "Amen" to - and increasingly helping facilitate - what they're each already doing as disciple-making leaders. Scott said, "Everyone is on board, and God is so good. He knows our needs and is able to help us. Everybody knows their assignment. Everything is in order. It is well!"
So that's the heavy-duty ministry news from Friday, but our gang is also having fun. I believe this is the remnants of Hillary's dinner. Looks like he enjoyed it maximally.
Umm... blackened some-kind-of fish with lime?
And for game night, they played Spoons using Uno cards.
You may remember Spoons. It's a classic, high-tech game (NOT!) that works like Musical Chairs, in that there is one less spoon than the number of players. With the spoons piled in the middle, you pass cards around the circle, and when one player gets four cards of one kind, he stealthily grabs a spoon. Everyone else then does the same and the spoon-less player has to do something silly or embarrassing; in this case, a chicken dance.
Five of them were playing at Hillary's house where Mark and Scott are staying. James and his wife, Susan were not there; their home is also in or near Nairobi.
Scott encouraging Ephraim (Hillary and Joyce's son) to do his chicken dance (L to R: Joyce, Ephraim, Scott, Hillary; Mark is taking the picture)
It's only 0:09 long, but here's the chicken dance.
You may want to watch that one again. A merry heart does good like a medicine. = )
And would you take another moment now to pray for our folks in Kenya? Thank you so much!
Blessings,
Patty