Visiting orphans in Kenya

Truth Connect conducted a Leadership Training Conference in Eldoret, Kenya last month.  It was a huge success.  Our training team finished its classes early one day so we could travel two hours by car to the northwest town of Kitale.  Bishop Chris and Word of Life Harvest Church has a ministry to orphans in Kitale.  Richard Rohde, Director of "HOLD the children," a child advocacy and sponsorship program was working to bring one of the school/orphanage on-line with his program.  To learn more visit www.holdthechildren.org.  Truth Connect endorses this ministry and encourages you to consider sponsoring a child through "HOLD the children."

Lead teacher briefs our team on some of the challenges she is facing.

Bishop Chris, Linda Gundlach, Gerry Whysong, and Rich Rohde listen to the children.

Our first stop in Kitale - what a joy to see the children and loving staff.

Dr. Don blesses the children in Jesus name.  After each blessing, the child responded, "Amen."

School / orphanage 2 - the children sang upon our arrival.

God's beautiful children in Kitale, Kenya school.

The children were given a piece of bread and cup of drink during our visit.

Kenya Leadership Training Conference - Success!!

The Truth Connect Leadership Training Conference (LTC) in Eldoret, Kenya was a huge success!  We averaged 200 leaders who attended daily through the week.  The church leaders came primarily from Kenya and Uganda.  What was even more amazing was that all 42 Kenyan tribes were represented - peacefully.  This is a tribute to the Prince of Peace, Jesus, Who was the focus of our week.

The Truth Connect ministry team was made up of four trainers and two prayer-walkers.  Pastor Bazile, a Haitian resident of the Bahamas taught on Spiritual Warfare.  He was very well received.  Linda Gundlach emphasized the importance of training our children in the Lord and how to do it.  Richard Rohde presented Scriptural principles of ministry to orphans and the Church's responsibility to carry out this necessary work.  Dr. Donald Schreier taught on the Foundation of the Church.  Jim Rummel and Gerry Whysong were the prayer-walkers for the week.  They prayed on site all day long for the Lord's protection and blessing on the LTC.

Dr. Don, Pastor Bazile, Jim Rummel, Linda Gundlach, Rich Rohde, Gerry Whysong.

Gerry walking and praying with is new friends.

Two hundred leaders gathered in western Kenya for the Truth Connect LTC.

In the next post I'll share more details of the LTC.  I had hoped to make blog posts throughout the week but internet access was limited.  C'est la vie!

In Haiti for Valentines Day. 2.14-18.12

It has been five months since I was last in Haiti and I saw small, positive signs of change on this visit. As we drove away from Port-au-Prince airport I noticed many of the tents that had filled the nearby park and grassy field southwest of the runway were gone – where or how, I was not sure. Later I learned this was just a public relations move as many other tent cities still existed – just as they have for the past two years since the earthquake. Other signs of progress I saw included moving traffic, working stop lights and bustling street markets.

Our team of seven rented a van and drove from Port-au-Prince to Port-de-Paix – about 130 miles or, 8 to 10 hours (depending on who is driving). The road is paved from Port-au-Prince to Gonaϊves but rough, rocky and slow from Gonaϊves to Port-de-Paix. On the latter part of the drive we had to ford two rivers and a number of huge “lakes” in the road. I learned to wait and follow tap-taps (public transport pick-up trucks) through the large pot-holes – just to be safe.

While in Port-de-Paix we visited HOLD the children Home, the orphanage in Lavaud that houses 32 children (learn more about this at www.holdthechildren.org.) Pastor Exanté Cherelus and I held an ordination examination and then conducted an ordination service for Rony Senat. I had the privilege of preaching the message at this service. Pastor and Mrs. Senat have a small house church in Gonaϊves. Two weeks ago Pastor Senat along with other leaders in Gonaϊves conducted a week long evangelistic crusade – over fifty people became followers of Jesus Christ. Our final task in Port-de-Paix was to meet with pastors and plan for the April evangelistic outreach. We have done this annual outreach for over ten years and have witnessed well over a thousand people become followers of Jesus Christ. Mission Discovery has been integral in this work over the years (visit www.missiondiscovery.org).

Truth Connect, although a new ministry, has long ties with Haiti. Karen and I have been working in Haiti since 1999. Please pray for Pastor Exanté Cherelus, Pastor Aleonce Bazile and their families. Both of these men are Haitian pastors and leaders of their people both in Haiti and the Bahamas. Please pray for Truth Connect – the seed of this ministry has been sown in fertile Kingdom soil in a plot known as “this world” (Matthew 13:37-ff) – may God give the increase for His glory!