Dear Supporters and Friends, March - April 2011
Greetings from a rainy Kisii. The rains have been here almost every day for a few weeks, and it is very refreshing after a day of hot sunshine and temperatures in the upper 90’s. It helps cool things down from the equatorial sun. We are so glad to be back here in Kisii.
Tonya and Miss Katie have started classes learning the Swahili language. We have a tutor that comes from Nairobi; and they are taking classes for 5 hours a day, for one week each month. Tonya’s class is more of a refresher course to give her more confidence in speaking to the ladies in our different churches. The kids are catching a lot more than they have in the past, and Kay-Leigh is trying to read Mama’s homework for her.
God has helped us to be able to visit some of our churches, to catch up with the faithful people that we have led to the Lord in the last several years, and to hear their stories of trusting the Lord during the time that we were on furlough.
During the months of March and April, we were evangelizing as much of the area around our church in Kisii town as possible. Kisii has a population of over 100,000 people, and we were able to get into the homes of about 3,000 people who live around the church. We passed out a total of around 10,000 John and Romans and 20,000 tracts to people all over town. It seems like just a small amount compared to the need that is so great. I have a vision for this church, that started 4 years ago, to give birth to many more churches that will one day reach all of Kisii’s population. On Easter Sunday, April 24th, we had 303 in attendance to break the record for the church’s attendance since its opening in 2007.
We also visited the last church that we started in Sidundo, Siaya; and we saw God’s hand on Pastor Charles and the members there, as they have continued to grow during our absence. There are over 30 that are ready for baptism. And since the rains are here, we will be doing this very soon. There is a 5 acre plot that has been donated to the church, and we have started fencing it. The church has been meeting in an old movie house for two years, and they have been filling it up. They have started gathering materials to build their own building; and when they are finished with the frame, then we will put the roof on it for them. If you would like to be a part of this project it will cost around $700 to put this roof on. We will also be building an orphanage later on in the year that will hold up to 25 children.
We have received a few large gifts to help in the orphan project that we desire to start in every place that we already have a church. Most of the offerings have been set aside for the building of the homes, when the land and church issues are finalized. But we only have about $200 that is designated for the orphan’s food care packages every month; and we definitely need more support in this area to consistently help these children with food, clothing, and sanitary needs. Please visit our website (www.shelbysinkenya.com or www.shelbysinkenya.org) and pray for these children; and as God touches your heart to be a blessing, please help us with small “handfuls of purpose” as we endeavor to reach these villages for Christ.
For Souls in Kenya
Luke and Tonya Shelby
Missionaries in Kenya
