Dear Supporters and Friends, May - July 2011
We thank you for your continued prayers and support for our family over the years and to several that were able to take us on for support during our last furlough. It does help us in trying to fulfill the ministries here in Kenya and in assisting us to reaching the churches here that need encouragement. God is blessing in many different areas, as we look for new opportunities to win the lost, to baptize them, and to edify believers in the churches that we are working with.
Short Term Missions
Over the last two months we had a single teacher, Miss Melissa Lapp (from Jacksonville Christian Academy and our home church), come to visit with us; and she was able to spend 6 weeks working in children’s and music ministries. She had a great time of teaching Sunday School, VBS under trees, and in a local school, passing out tracts and John and Romans in three different areas where we have churches already. She also helped Abigail learn a lot more on the piano, as well as one of our College Students who is leading the music in our church in Kisii. We took her to the game reserve and saw several animals many of which we had never seen before like a monitor lizard, mongoose, dik dik deer, and a leopard with a kill. It was a really great time. Melissa was a real blessing to us, and the kids had a great time with her.
Orphan Ministry
The orphan ministry is picking up steam. We are visiting 23 total orphans (from 2 churches) in their homes each month; and we are giving them a food care package, as well as getting better information on how to care for them medically, and also helping them with things that they need when they go to school. These children have all of the documentation of proof of their situation, and we will begin with these children when we set up the orphanages in the local churches. There are 61 other children scattered out in 3 other churches that we are helping through their church. They are still trying to get their documents finalized. There are several that are HIV positive, and we are praying that God will help us with the wisdom and resources to minister to these children in every area of their life. Please pray with us.
Local Church Building Needs
Calvary Baptist Church in Sidundo is building their church building now on a 5-acre plot, and by the end of this month we will be putting the roof on it for them. It will cost around $700, and if you would like to help with this ministry please send it to our home church or BIMI. We are also trying to get the churches here to help with benches, so that they have a helping hand in this new ministry. In September, a BIMI CLAIM Team will be coming to join hands with us in building our first orphanage on this church’s property. We will send out another letter next week with all of the details about this wonderful opportunity to touch the lives of so many young lives!
God bless you and thank you for your prayers.
Luke and Tonya Shelby
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