Kenya Prayer Update #7

Mambo,

The past week has been a good one. We've been working a lot on the new church land. The soil here is incredibly rocky, so we've been unearthing several dump truck loads of rocks in order to prepare for digging the holes for the pillars and the foundation slab. One of my fingers got crushed in the meantime, but it's just bruised now (since only about 40% of you want to see the photos, I won't send them... you're welcome to the 60%) That elevator shaft I told you all about yesterday we ended up having to take down because it didn't fit with the plans for our building. The concrete mixture wasn't so strong, but with rebar inside of it it would not be toppled by a digger, nor were an army of sledgehammers any good use. We ended up having to get handheld jackhammers from the hardware store and two teams of two chipped at it inch by inch for four days. But it is down! God's power in felling the walls of Jericho was made very evident to us all as we watched the wall withstand human efforts for four days. And it was a small wall! We serve a mighty God who can strip the walls of a greatly fortified city by Will, yet still has compassion and mercy to spare us from His power should we believe on Him for salvation.

Pray for the workers as we begin surveying and levelling out the land tomorrow and begin digging soon, that we'd be strengthened in our work and that it would be done for His glory.

Some exciting things -- I've begun taking guitar lessons with the church's music director; he's an incredible musician and I'm stoked to start practicing. Also, Lord willing I will begin taking Kiswahili lessons on Wednesdays -- sweeeeeeet!

We picked up int chapter 13 of Romans this past Sunday, a wonderful study of our duties both towards government and towards our fellow citizens and human beings in love. Also cool that chapter 12 is where Pastor Josh left off on before returning to the States for this past summer and it's also the same point where I left from CC Greater Portland hearing Pastor Travis teach to come here. So I get to pick up hearing the studies right where I was left.

Pray for Arsenal, they lost to Manchester United last night in overtime... they must be feeling it right now. I decided I was an Arsenal fan because my brother is (shoutout to Jabyn) and it was a very intense football game that we watched with the community at church last night. There was reprieve from the tension at the half-time BIble study, but then it was back to shouting at the refs and players (and friends) til the penalty shootout ended and Arsenal was down one. Good thing it's the Word of God and not the football game that endures.

I've officially been living in El Doret for an entire month as of today! December 10th was when I left the US, and midday the 13th marked my arrival to El Doret. Things are well and God is good. "'Tis grace has brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me on."

Godspeed,

Zion "Omondi" Marsters