10 days and counting ....

Merry Christmas everyone!!!!!
I pray that you will know and experience the love and grace of God as your greatest gift. Well, on Jan 1st I will be heading back to East Africa (Kenya and Uganda). I am excited to return but missing everyone already.

Goals for 2009:

1. Invest in the 8-10 African leaders that attended the Indonesia Summit helping them to fulfil their outreach goals.
2. Learn more about the MANI network and it's leaders.
3. Lead serving teams in Kenya, Ethiopia and Uganda.
4. Adjust to calling East Africa home.
5. Accept and reveal the love of God for all people.

I will need your prayers and support during this next year.

I am very grateful for all of you who are praying for me and supporting me in this ministry outreach. During these times I am humbled and overwhelmed by your trust and investment. THANK YOU!!!! 1 Cor. 15:57-58 May God wreck us with His love.

Pictures!!!

Picture from Africa Travels
Esther with African Leaders at the Global Summit in Bali

Leaders from three different regions of the world working together to mobilize the African church.
Okay Cape Town, South Africa is JUST BEAUTIFUL!!!!
Cherie's After school program, Jo'burg, South Africa
Orphans in Kissumu, Kenya. I did health exams, yes my nursing degree can be used :).

Esther and Reginah at Pastor's training in Marsabit, Kenya Feb 08' Esther in Malawi, Africa and WCCC team passing out Bible to the Women leaders. Jodi in Cape Town, South Africa during a Valuable to Jesus school session
Esther at St Francis Hospice home in Jo'burg , South Africa
Malawi, Africa

Thanks for your support and prayers. I am looking forward to another year in EAST AFRICA serving the Church and God's global mission.

Praise God

Well I can not believe it, but the Summit is over.

Now the real work begins. Praise God for a great time in Bali. I am leaving for the airport in one hour. The four days of the Summit was well received by all. Leaders from around the world join together to talk about mobilizing the church for mission.

There was an excitement in the air as we came together on Monday. For several of these leaders it was the first time they have been involved with a meeting of this kind. We prayed for the world and we had devotions about generosity, compassion, and unity.

We met in discussion and planning groups based on the roles we have in mobilizing the church and in regional meetings based on where we serve. I lead the African region. It was two great sessions on appreciating the value and contributions of the African church, addressing her challenges, and planning for mobilizing the African church. I know it was only a few of us, but we are believing God to do great things.

Thank you so much for your prayers and generous giving to help nine of these leaders from Africa join in on this Summit. Their reaction and gratitude was quite rewarding. Keep them in your prayer for this coming year of working out the plans.

I know I am not giving good details but I will ask the delegates to share a few words in the future. I just wanted to make sure I said THANK YOU !!!!! Blessings and grace.

PS I went White water rafting and SURVIVED!!!! It was a lot of fun.

Thanks for your Covering

Praise God the African team has arrived minus one. Yetemgeta missed the plane, but hewill arrive today. Thank you so very much for praying for us. We will start the summit tonight. There are 100 leaders, women and men, from 15 different countries here to connect for God's kingdom. I am very excited. I will be leading two sessions. Not so much teaching but leading the group through discussions and next step ideas for the African region. Please continue to pray for us and God's agenda. We are all so excited you can feel it in the air. I will include pictures later. It is great seeing many of the leaders that we have worked with for several years. This time is filled with NEW BEGINNINGS and God's fresh ANOINTING. Thanks for standing with me. Blessings.

Calling Prayer Team

Hello Everyone, I would really appreciate your prayers for the next few weeks. I am in need of calmness, focus and confidence for the upcoming summit. There are several things going on at the same time and WISDOM, GRACE, and PEACE is needed. Thanks I am very grateful for the few days of rest in the states.

Hello Everyone,

I pray that you are all doing well. I am here in Kenya packing my bags for another five weeks of travel. This trip will bring me to the states for a few days on my way to South East Asia.
For the next ten days I will be preparing for our Global Summit that will bring together over a hundred leaders from around the world for a global mission summit. I am very excited that over 20 leaders will be coming from Africa. For several of these leader it will be their first experience with so many international leaders. IN PHOTOS 4 of the 10 leaders that will be attending the Global Summit, Peter, Geofrrey, Evanson, and Reginah. (Also attending Yetem, Ahmed, Demissie, Alemayehu, Peter, and Wachira) Please keep us in prayer.

PLEASE keep this time in prayer August 28th to Sept 6TH. We are praying for divine connections, smooth traveling and flight connections, physical strength for these leaders dealing with jetlag, and the Holy Spirit's leading in each session. Also pray for language skills and understanding. We will all "speak" in English with accents from around the world, pray that we understand each other.

Praise God we have 9 of the needed 11 visas, please pray for the last two that should be finished this week.

Thanks for covering me in ministry with your prayers and support. I will be near home and thinking after Sept 17th. I pray to see most of you then.

God bless and lots of love,

Esther

May-July

Hello Wonderful people,

I know it has been too long since hearing from me. I can only repent.
Between traveling, internet service or lack of, and visiting people I have
not updated many on what is going on.

Malawi:
It was great meeting up with the Willow Creek team and World Relief. We
visited ministry sites and passed out Bible.

South Africa:
Jo'burg was great and visiting with David and Cherie was quite a blessing.
Meeting pastors, visiting an afterschool program and hanging out with teens.
Our visit to St Frances AIDS Hospice home was a highlight. We took pictures
and bless the residents with greetings cards.

Capetown is a beautiful place. God put the finishing touches on the world
down there. Working with Jodi and Straatwerks we visited families, prayed
with sex workers, and conducted a Valuable to Jesus session at a local
school. It was great.

Somerset West Kevin and Erica were great host as we toured around townships, visited ministry projects, sat in on an outreach to gang members and I
learned more about the CHE program.

Back in Kenya:
I came back to finish plans for the Sept trip. Many problems came up
stressing me out, but God answered prayers. Now the big rush to finish the
needed paperwork for the visas. PLEASE PRAY!!!

Regina Naya and I conducted a 2 day Women's session for PACE ministries. I
will return this weekend for a staff training and Sunday service.

Weekend retreat with ITeams Refugee group. Teaching two sessions to the adults and fellowshipping with the ladies.

Thank you so much for all of your prayers and financial support for this
ministry. Please continue to stand with me as we bless the globe for
Christ. I am planning to return to the states for ten days before going out
again. I would appreciate your prayers for rest and restoration. You will not see me until mid Sept.

Global Summit:
The final plans are starting to settle for the conference. I have turned in the entry visas applications. PLEASE pray for a quick processing time and approval. Pray for the leaders who will gather for this event in Sept.




Esther

Live from Malawi

WOW!!!! I can not believe a month has gone by and I have not updated you. SORRY.

I am in Lilongwa, Malawi in Southern Africa. I have been blessed to visit with Stella who is the African staff person for Willow Creek. I arrived on the 4th and drove with the World Relief staff to the city of Chatipa in Northern Malawi. Praise God I joined the Willow Creek team and spent four days hanging out with folks from home. We visited several of the WR projects that Willow has supported, spoke with women leaders and youth. We were blessed by some great drama and music from the youth about their life and involvement with WR programs. It was great to visit and be a part of what Willow's support has done. We visited water wells, passed out Bible to church leaders and students in the local language, visited AIDS patients and school kids.

On the PF side, I was able to continue to talk with a key leader about coming to the Global Summit in Sept. Their ministry experience and networking passion will bring needed insight to the meeting. I am very excited about the leaders who have agreed to join the Global Summit in Sept. Please keep praying for this meeting and all the details and funds that are needed. It will cost at least $1660 for each leader to join us. Please pray for us and join with us in supporting them.

APRIL 2008
Well, let me back track a minute and fill you in. During April I continued preparing leaders from Nyauhururu, Kenya for the Sept. meeting and worked on plans for a Northern Kenya mission trip and women's conference this coming July.

After returning to Nairobi there were a few more days of unrest, but so far everything has seem to calm down and return to "normal." I had an opportunity to travel to Uganda and visit Agape Global Mission. Tabitha and I spent a week speaking at a home for teen moms, at churches and schools.

One of my goals during these eight months is to invited the African delegation to the Global Summit in Sept. During my time in Uganda I have invited Dr. Lyn. She is on the MANI committee to mobilize African churches to missions. I am very excited that she is considering joining us. Please pray that God will open the doors for her to attend. She has a very busy schedule for this fall, but desires to join us.

On my way back to Kenya I stopped by Nyanza, Kenya. This area is the worst hit with the HIV/AIDS crisis. We were able to visit with 40 orphans and conduct a 2 day retreat for them. I performed physicals exams, Tabitha taught an HIV/AIDS awareness session and we toured a sugar factory. It doesn't start out so sweet. We left promising to cut out sugar from our diets. This is also the area that Senator Obama's father is from. We visited a school named after him.

I want to say again thank you so very much for your support and prayers. I am connecting in ways that could not been done before. God is working great land.

Please pray for the church leadership in Africa. Just like anywhere they have a great potential to do good for the Kingdom of God or harm against the people. We can uphold them and their families.

Please pray for the leaders that will be attending the Global Summit in Sept. They need funds, time to prepare for these intense four days and all the travel details.

Please continue to pray for me. My health is doing great and sleep is still a joke. The continued support that is needed ahead. I will not be returning home in August, but early Oct.

Please pray for the open opportunity to go to Tanzania and Ghana this July or August. There is a network of leaders that are open to mobilizing their churches for missions and I have been invited to speak with them. We are working out the details now.

THANK YOU!!!! for standing with me in ministry.

Esther

Kenya and Beyond....

Hello Everyone,


I KNOW I KNOW it has been forever since hearing from me.

I am doing well. and still in Kenya for the next two weeks. Here is a quick recap of the latest events.

The Egypt trip:
Joel, Aaron, Nathan and myself joined together to speak with over 50 leaders about Church Centered mission in the Arab states. It was a blessed time of training, connecting and hearing the hearts of the pastors in this region. Praise God we have an invitation to teach in Israel. Many of these pastors and leaders are evangelist with a great heart to reach Muslims. Please pray for those who God has given this region of the world to live and serve. Pray for Christian radio and television that are reaching those who would NEVER enter a church, or openly talk to Christians about Christ. This gathering of like minded servants was uplifting and challenging. Many of these leaders have to serve under laws that are against their faith. Keep them in your prayers.

Northern Kenya:
Moyale and Marsabit was also uplifting and full of activity. Pastor Regina and I hit the ground running. Right from the airport we met with 100 praying women, had lunch and met with 60 youth. It was great to speak into their lives about God's call to mission for the church. During our time we spoke to pastors on leadership development and church centered mission. Pray for these churches that serve in Muslim areas in difficult situations. Right now they are running out of water in the river beds.

Mombosa:
Missionary Janice, from Florida, works with a program that digs water wells for communities that have to walk over 5 miles to dirty rivers or have very limited water resources. I was the video person. I am always amazed at the effort many people here have to go through to get things we receive without effort. I have never walked a mile for my daily water. Here you see women and children walk several miles carrying large buckets of water several times a day. These churches are helping to bring clean water closer to the communities. We also were able to enjoy the coast and have a rest. I swam in the Indian Ocean and I experienced my first sunburn.

Nyauhururu, Kenya
I have been here for one week reconnecting with PACE ministries. It has been a blessing to speak to pastors and churches about their call to mission. Several leaders here have a heart for the 22 unreached areas of Kenya. God has given me several opportunities to speak into their lives about God's call for their church to go to the world. The African church is a powerhouse for the Kingdom of God. Many lack resources but not vision for what God can and is doing among them. Thank you for helping me to serve and encourage them towards glocal (global and local) mission. I will be here for another two weeks. I will focused on training four pastors that will pioneer church centered mission in this area.


THANK YOU SO MUCH for your prayers and support. Right now Kenya is quiet and returning to "normal life" for most Kenyans. Continue to pray for healing and recovery. There are a thousand families grieving the loss of a loved one and still 100,000 families without a home living in tents in the rain. Kids are not in school and food is running low.

Thank you for standing with me. Because of your giving we will pay the rent for 8 families for six months. These families have relocated and will not be returning to their homeland. PACE ministries have given them land to plant food and is trying to cover their rent for one year. This is a big expenses for an already over taxed ministry. There are 32 families that they are serving with homes, food and resources.


For so many years mission has been one direction. But God has a dream for his church. The face of mission is changing, our mission force is multi ethnic and getting stronger as we empower our brothers and sisters around the world. During my time outside of the states, part of my assignment is to encourage and equip the Church for mission. The call of mission is not based on where we are from,. how much money we have or the color of our skin. It is the call of the church to do God mission on earth. For years mission has been done by a few, but God has given to call to the church. At Pathfinders we are committed to helping the church to be centered on God's mission. Thank you for your support and prayers in equipping God's people for His mission.

WHAT"S NEXT
Maasai people in Narok, Kenya April 8-10. I will meet with community leaders and pastors.
Kissumu, Kenya with Pastor Elizabeth April 12-15
Kampala, Uganda April 15th to 26th Connecting with several pastors and leaders in mission training
Ndzania, Kenya April 26-28th Visiting an orphanage and conducting HIV/AIDS testing
May and June Malawai and South Africa


Praise and Prayer:
Praise God for the first three months of ministry.
Pray for the leaders that are invited to our Southasia meeting in Sept. for preparation and to raise the funds needed.
Praise God for an agreement in Kenya between the leaders.
Pray for God's peace, healing and restoration in Kenya.
Pray for the thousands of families who are deciding to return to the troubled areas or relocate.
Pray that the government will really care for and help the people and not put the relief money in their pockets.
Pray for the Kenyan church repentance and return to the mission of God.
Praise God for the open hearts of the leaders in receiving the challenge to call their church to missions.
Praise God for good health and safety in travel.
Praise God for Tabithia, Regina, Yetem and others who are serving with me.
Praise God for all of you that are praying for me!!!!! I am very grateful.
Praise God for all of those who are supporting the ministry. I am humbled and it is making a difference.
Praise God for electricity and the Internet. It is a lifeline when it works.


Blessings to you all. Serving His kingdom together.

Esther

One week in Ethiopia

Update on Kenya:
Things here in Kenya are still unsettled. Just when things seems to calm another city is under attack. There are so many sides to this political and ethnic battle. We are praying that people who have not been heard and unjustly treated will be recognized and will back off of the killing and destruction that has ended and crippled life in Kenya.

The things you are seeing on the news are very true and at the same time life is trying to go on. There are parts of the city that seems far removed from the fighting. Everyone is on edge.

Highlights of the week:
Teaching at two Bible studies for Somalian refugee women, and attending two weeks of Refugee fellowship services. It has been great working with Dotun and Ami. Bless them for their fellowship this week. LOVED IT!

I have been listening to Pastor Oscar at Nairobi Chapel for the last two weeks about the ethnic, political, spiritual and moral monsters that are trying to destroy Kenya. It has been excellent. He is speaking God's truth to all sides during this time. It is calling Christians to think above tribal and racial lines and walk as followers of Christ. I will figure out how to get some CD's back home for some of you to hear.

Turning the corner.
I am leaving for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia at 7am Monday 1/28. I will be there for one week with Yetem, Mark and Maggie teaching at a Pastor's and Businessmen ministry conference. I will teach a session on Church Centered Mission. Start praying for our group and the leaders that will be attending a week long gathering.

Sorry these updates is so picture-less. I will try to take pictures in Ethiopia. The refugee women are still in threatening situation with their families and communities about becoming Christians, so I can not take and post photos of them.

Back in the States:
Thank you so very much for your continued gifts and prayers. God knows the outcome of all that is happening. So what is happening back in the states? Drop me a line about life on your side of the pond.

Next Steps:
If the Lord will allow, I am planning a ministry trip with Pastor Regina to Northern Kenya for a pastor's training and women's conference. If things are calm, Feb 15th to 22nd we will travel to Marsabit and Moyale Kenya.

Feb 25th to March 1st Cairo, Egypt. Details to follow.

Thank you for being a blessing to the world. Please join us in this ministry year with your prayers and financial support.

PathFinders International
60-B Terra Cotta Dr #205
Crystal Lake, IL 60014
memo: Hall-Africa

Thanking God for the Rain

Today it is storming!!! A summer rain storm. We are praying that will keep many people in from protesting, but we will see. Sorry I am low on pictures. I do not think you want pics of four walls. Here is my last general email.

Hello Everyone, Thanks be to God!!!!

Well things here in Kenya are still very unstable and scary. We are past the second day of planned rallies. The first day it rained in the morning and in Nairobi most people tried to go to work. In Kibera (Nairobi slum) there were people killed and groups were shot at by police. All around Kenya there were different clashes. There are times the police used teargas and shoot bullets (in the air or at them) against people gathering and holding signs. But at the same time were other places the groups were throwing stones at police.

There are so many people here who are discouraged, poor, under represented, oppressed and have nothing to lose. Kenya has experience growth in many areas but still 60-70% of Kenyans are poor. Their government officials (Parliament members) have a salary of $100,000 a month while most Kenyans make $50-200 a month. The election results have brought to the surface all the problems from the last hundred years.

Keep praying for the leaders of Kenya. Their families live in Europe or America so they are far removed from this crisis. The demonstrations are shutting down travel throughout the country in several spots. Prices are going up since most shops close early and supplies can not reach some remote areas. The day before the planned rallies people flocked to the stores to stock up on supplies not sure how long we would be indoors.

Praise God there is movement in the city. Those areas on the outskirts of the city seem normal. This is affecting Uganda and other landlocked countries that used Kenyan roads for their supplies. To say the least the tension is high and tribal fighting is displacing thousands of people. Single mothers and families are living in tents around police stations for protection. It is really bad for many of the poor of this country.

I am doing fine. I am living with missionaries friends Dotun and Ami. We are about 20 miles outside of the city. Yesterday we stayed in and today we went to their Nairobi office. We are watching the news (CNN & BBC) to see what is happening in the city. The President did shut down live media for quite a while. Now we get spotted live news from Kenyan news reporters.

Many have asked how I do feel, mostly shocked and sad. There is so much happening to these wonderful people. At the same time you can smell victory for the kingdom of God. If the church will raise up over tribal issues and stand firm for Christ there will be an amazing turn around. Pray for the church leaders to stop taking sides and stand for Christ. Pray that the church leaders will speak of unity and love in every church. Some are still looking to tribal tradition. Kenya is a strong place for Christianity. If it crumbles other spiritual leaders will take advantage of it. KENYA FOR CHRIST THEY CAN LEAD AFRICA TO THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

When God calls us to a place of service it may not be a bed of roses, but His presence, power, provision and peace are there. I am trusting God and His leading. The plans for the first few weeks have been cancelled, but God is opening up the opportunities that are needed. Right now the trip to Ethiopia is going as planned. I will be leaving on the 28th and returning to Nairobi, Lord's will. Okay this is getting long. Please keep praying for us in Kenya. I am glad to be here. Thanks for you support and prayers.

Your missionary to Kenya & Africa,
Esther Hall
PathFinders Intl
60-B Terra Cotta Dr #205
Crystal Lake, IL 60014

P. S. Like me you can be the biggest chicken on earth and still say yes to God's call and follow through. Make your move.

A Hard Week is Coming...

The Kenya leaders meeting on Friday did not go well. The opposition has called for three days of protesting in 20 locations around Kenya. This next week will lock down this country for several days. Wed, Thur, and Fri are the scheduled days of protesting. Praise God Joy will leave on Monday night and on Tuesday I will stay with Dotun and Ami for the next week. They are with Int'l Teams and I know them from the Chicago area. I am glad that I will not be alone. Please keep praying for Kenya. Please pray also for the American Ambassdor that he does not say anything that will cause anti-US feelings. We are planning to stay indoors for the next week and ride out the storm. This situation is VERY VERY serious. Many people have loss their life, home and businesses since the election and now it will start again for three days. Pray for Kenya. Both leaaders are behind the problems. I will stay as connected as possible.

side note

Esther Hall's personality type:
Serious and quiet, interested in security and peaceful living. Extremely thorough, responsible, and dependable. Well-developed powers of concentration. Usually interested in supporting and promoting traditions and establishments. Well-organized and hard working, they work steadily towards identified goals. They can usually accomplish any task once they have set their mind to it.
Careers that could fit Esther Hall includes:
Business executives, administrators and managers, accountants, police, detectives, judges, lawyers, medical doctors, dentists, computer programmers, systems analysts, computer specialists, auditors, electricians, math teachers, mechanical engineers, steelworkers, technicians, (militia members).


Hey does this sound like me? E

Praying For Kenya

Hello Everyone,

I pray that you have entered the New Year in God's grace and peace. We left the USA on the 1st with great excitement and caution. We arrived in Nairobi at 10pm. Because of the political unrest in Nairobi, Joy and I were prepared to stay overnight at the airport. Praise God our taxi driver was there and we arrived at our guesthouse without any delay or problem. The streets were empty and quiet.

Thursday was a different story. The riots have targeted certain tribal owners so almost all of the shops were closed. There was a huge protest about two blocks from of guesthouse. We could hear all the shouting and see the smoke from burning buildings. It lasted a few hours, then things were quiet. We step out to buy some food and water. Watching the news showed that many homes were burned, a church and restaurant within a few blocks of us.

This is a beautiful country and this unrest is crushing some many poor people. The areas that are getting hit the worst have displaced hundreds of thousand of people, fuel and food is running out and hundreds of people have been killed.

Praise God the church is speaking up and Bishop Tutu is here to talk with both sides. We are praying against pride and power hungry leaders. The city has shut down many of the roads to the downtown area. Many people have not returned to work since Christmas. There is another protest planned for Tuesday. The frustration of being blocked increases the fighting and burning. The police are out in double force.

We are the on site prayer team. I know the world is praying for God's help in Kenya. This is a country that acknowledges God. We are praying daily about all of the issues that are presented on the news and what we hear from others. Please keep Kenya and East Africa in your prayers. Kenya is the gateway for other countries to get their food, fuel and supplies. So this unrest is affecting the entire region. This is a very serious event that will have ripple effects for a long time.

Our plans have been cancelled because traveling around is NOT GOOD. So we are getting to know our guesthouse friends. We have joined together shared food, information and community. We are praying for our family and friends back home also. We are planning to go to church on Sunday. Ps Regina has come to meet us and it was a blessings to share time with her. SHe as a great passion for Kenya.

We asked God for adventure and THIS WOULD BE IT!!!! :) Keep praying for Kenya, she is God's mighty army in the world. satan would love to crush her as God is about to advance His kingdom towards greater impact.

Joining together to Serve HIM,
Esther and Joy