My favorite verse is Romans 10:13, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." This is the verse that helped me get saved!

January-March 2012 Prayer Letter

Dear Praying Friends and Family,

Hello from Kenya. Over the last couple of months it has been very busy here, and God is blessing in different areas. Everyone in the family is healthy and doing well. Tonya is having a problem though of keeping and producing iron in her blood. While we were still on furlough in 2010, she had a series of appointments with a specialist in Arkansas. She was given an infusion of iron, and she has been taking weekly B-12 shots. She was able to do a similar test here after a year, but not as complete as in the States. She sent her results to her doctor, and he says that her blood is not producing any iron on its own nor is it holding onto iron over a long term basis. It has been recommended that she has a blood transfusion in the States. We are planning for her to go in June this year after the kids are finished with school for the year.

Our Bible College finished its 10th year in December, so we had a reunion of students at the graduation. We had 8 more students finish the three year course and graduate. The college has also expanded with two branches other this year, one in Sidundo (which began in January) and the other in Rongo (which will begin in May). We already have 31 students for the year, and we are expecting at least ten more in the classes in Rongo. We are also now offering the three year course in English, Swahili, and Dholou languages.

The orphan ministry has continued to grow in awareness, and several gifts have helped us to get to the finishing stages of putting windows and doors on the buildings in Sidundo. This month we will begin meeting with orphans and guardians, to confirm those who will need to be cared for in the orphanage. We will also be arranging to make the beds, chairs, tables and other furnishings that will be needed in the near future. We have also begun looking at the cost of building a second Orphanage in the town of Kuresoi, because of the great need in that area.

Also Calvary Baptist Church in Kisii has voted to start building phase one of an extension that should be completed in a few months. The extension will double the seating capacity. It was agreed that the church itself will cover half of this cost which will be around $2,000. We have already raised $500 since December (among the local church congregation) for this extension project. We will continue to raise funds over the next 2 years for phase two (to build a larger building 35x50) that will cost approximately $12,500. If you would be willing to help this church with their part, we will raise and set aside funds for this project. I already have the estimates; and we will start making payments soon to the contractor, for the materials of the larger building. 

Serving Him in Kenya,

Luke & Tonya Shelby
Missionaries in Kenya

Dear Praying Friends and Family,
Hello from Kenya. Over the last couple of months it has been very busy here, and God is blessing in different areas. Everyone in the family is healthy and doing well. Tonya is having a problem though of keeping and producing iron in her blood. While we were still on furlough in 2010, she had a series of appointments with a specialist in Arkansas. She was given an infusion of iron, and she has been taking weekly B-12 shots. She was able to do a similar test here after a year, but not as complete as in the States. She sent her results to her doctor, and he says that her blood is not producing any iron on its own nor is it holding onto iron over a long term basis. It has been recommended that she has a blood transfusion in the States. We are planning for her to go in June this year after the kids are finished with school for the year.
Our Bible College finished its 10th year in December, so we had a reunion of students at the graduation. We had 8 more students finish the three year course and graduate. The college has also expanded with two branches other this year, one in Sidundo (which began in January) and the other in Rongo (which will begin in May). We already have 31 students for the year, and we are expecting at least ten more in the classes in Rongo. We are also now offering the three year course in English, Swahili, and Dholou languages.
The orphan ministry has continued to grow in awareness, and several gifts have helped us to get to the finishing stages of putting windows and doors on the buildings in Sidundo. This month we will begin meeting with orphans and guardians, to confirm those who will need to be cared for in the orphanage. We will also be arranging to make the beds, chairs, tables and other furnishings that will be needed in the near future. We have also begun looking at the cost of building a second Orphanage in the town of Kuresoi, because of the great need in that area.
Also Calvary Baptist Church in Kisii has voted to start building phase one of an extension that should be completed in a few months. The extension will double the seating capacity. It was agreed that the church itself will cover half of this cost which will be around $2,000. We have already raised $500 since December (among the local church congregation) for this extension project. We will continue to raise funds over the next 2 years for phase two (to build a larger building 35x50) that will cost approximately $12,500. If you would be willing to help this church with their part, we will raise and set aside funds for this project. I already have the estimates; and we will start making payments soon to the contractor, for the materials of the larger building. 
Serving Him in Kenya,

Luke & Tonya Shelby
Missionaries in Kenya

Psalm 22: 27—“All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.”

Philippians 2:10-11—“That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of the things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

These verses tell us that at one point and time everyone will bow to the will of God. They will either see God as a loving father or as a righteous Judge. It is up to us Christians to see that more and more people see God as their Father instead of the terrible aspect of God (to those who are unbelievers) that the Bible mentions in Deuteronomy 10:17.

Written by: Abigail

In my school I just finished my science book, and I am going on to health. And I am so excited too. I have been learning about a variety of vertebrates like: birds, fish, snakes, lizards, turtles, crocodilians, frogs, and salamanders.

Why does everything have to happen in one week? First, Daddy has had malaria since the beginning of this week. Next, Mama had a virus that has kept her in bed since Saturday; and we have Swahili classes! But that is not the worst of it; daddy was also teaching institute, and we were have school on top of all of that. We are all tired and could use your prayers. Thankfully, Mama is better and Daddy is improving; and school is finished for the week.

Written by: Breanne

We have been learning Swahili. I like talking to my friends in Swahili. They like to talk to me in English. So I talk in Swahili and they talk in English, and we have lots of fun playing together. I have some pen pals at Jacksonville Christian Academy (our home church's school), and I want tell them some of the words I have learned.

kutaka - means "to want"
maji - means "water"
nipe - means "give me" (this is the polite way to say it)
chini - means "down"
juu - means "up"

I will write more another day!
Written by: Kay-Leigh

Isaiah 42:5-7 (By Abigail)

“Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:

“I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;

“To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.” Isaiah 42: 5-7

This passage I find encouraging, because it first points out, in verse five, that God is in control of everything even down to the very breath we take. That breath of air that we often take for granted. And verse six is encouraging as well, as the Lord promises to hold our hand to guide us as a light, I believe, a light of the gospel. Then on to verse seven with the light of God’s Word penetrating through the darkness of the world, and bringing souls to Christ. I hope this has been encouraging to you to know that God is there, and that others see the light of Jesus Christ in you though it may not seem like it at the moment.

“Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:

“I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;

“To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.” Isaiah 42: 5-7

This passage I find encouraging, because it first points out, in verse five, that God is in control of everything even down to the very breath we take. That breath of air that we often take for granted. And verse six is encouraging as well, as the Lord promises to hold our hand to guide us as a light, I believe, a light of the gospel. Then on to verse seven with the light of God’s Word penetrating through the darkness of the world, and bringing souls to Christ. I hope this has been encouraging to you to know that God is there, and that others see the light of Jesus Christ in you though it may not seem like it at the moment.

Written by: Abigail Shelby