December 15, 2016
Greeting in Christ name.
I can’t believe it’s CHRISTMAS time. It’s 80 degrees here so I will not
be singing “I’m dreaming of a white Christmas.” WOW time has gone by so fast. I
need to write a year’s worth of activities and ministry events. Just trying to share with you all on what God
has been doing, our struggles and triumphs. So it’s long J. Thank you so much for
your prayers and financial support to continue in ministry. God is adding to
your basket of blessings for standing with us and the people we serve.
Children Ministry Training
When I returned to Kenya, I was praying for more teaching
and ministry development activities. God
answered that pray amazingly. I had been
spending Christmas and hosting teams in the Kisii area with Ps Abel and
Jane. After talking with him more about
his ministry needs, he mentioned how they needed Children ministry training for
their local network of pastors and churches. I knew that was my sweet
spot. I longed to connect more and more
with those who serve children. Building training teams has been a dream and now
it has come to life. Pray that God will
connect me with other trainers in the Kisii area.
John, Monica and Jane joined with me in hosting monthly
Children ministry training sessions from Feb to July in Kisii. We trained 20 ministry leaders. This was an exciting and Spirit filled
time. We were requested to return and
host other training sessions throughout 2017.
I am looking forward to training a team of Children ministry leaders who
can equip and motivate others in serving in such a great mission field in East
Africa. I am very excited that Ps Abel has stated that the churches that were
in the first training are reporting improvement and increase in attendance in
their Sunday program. Praise God. Pray that God will open doors to meet local
church pastors that will let us train their leaders and cover the three-month
training expenses (about $20 a person).
God is good I have
met the Child Evangelism Fellowship leader for the Kisii area. Ps Collins and I will be working together to
train children ministry leaders throughout the Kisii area. Our first Children holiday camp will be Dec
28-31, 2016. We will be hosted by Ps
Abel and Jane. KEEP us in prayer we will
have between 100 to 200 kids. We are using the last day as an evangelistic
service.
Around the world children and teens go through unbelievable
issues and struggles. It blesses my soul
when churches invest in leaders and their communities to serve children and
teens. I have two churches making plans for Jan/Feb 2017 trainings. Praying for anyone who would like to come
and help us train children ministry leaders in drama, lesson planning, music,
lessons for teens, fun activities and crafts. I am willing to host one person
or a church team. Jan-July and Oct to
Dec in 2017. PLEASE COME!!!! Let me know if you are interested.
Hospital in April
I was deathly sick with malaria in April. No joke it was the worst experience. But it also blessed me by having so many
friends to visit and take care of Mwende while I was sick and in the hospital
for over a week. Not only was I fighting
malaria but my blood sugar would not go down. Because I had not eaten for nine
days, I felt lifeless. It was another level of cross cultural learning and
struggles. I was in dire need of chicken
noodle soup and ice water. But the staff
brought me chicken stew and hot tea. Praise God I was led to leave the hospital
and was able to eat food that stayed down.
It took about a month to speak and feel normal again. Praise God for His
healing and restoration. Praising God
for a financial gift that came in the week before the hospital stay that helped
to cover half of the cost. Thank you for giving and praying.
Kairos Mission Courses
I have been involved with mission mobilizing for years
teaching and organizing KAIROS courses in the states and Kenya. Kairos is a 9
session mission awareness course that is a wonderful tool that God is using to
awaken the church for His mission vision.
I have helped to teach and coordinate several Kairos classes in Nairobi,
Rongo, Nyahururu and the Kisii areas. In
August, a group of missionaries and Christian ministry workers and in Oct, it
was with a group of Christian union students in Kisii joined the class. What an amazing time stirring up the vision
of missions in a perspective that many miss.
I will be serving with a small group of Kairos facilitators in the Kisii
area in partnering with churches to train believers in cross cultural ministry.
Nadine Brittan from Australia has developed a Great Commission Kids
training. I will also help Kairos grads
communicate the same information to kids.
We pray that kids will have a heart like God’s for all nations to know
and serve Christ. Pray that we can develop a team of mobilizers for the Kisii Nyanza
areas to host Kairos and Great Commission kid’s classes. Your support helps
me to travel and support others to take the classes. THANK YOU.
Willow Creek Treat
Willow Creek Chicago joined
us in Sept for Business as Minsitry training sessions for several of our
minsitry partners. The team did a great
job on teaching about Record keeping, Marketing, Customer Service, Leadership,
Goal setting and Expanding your Business. I have received feedback from several
of the participants they are using the information that they taught.
Oasis Shelter
Children Home visits
I have had a great time visiting the Oasis Shelter in
Migori, Kenya in July and the whole month of November. The Shelter is a children home with 44 kids
and 18 staff member. My missionary
friends, Bob and Deb, asked if I could cover for them as they returned to the
states. It was a blessing to serve with
a good team of moms, staff and teachers loving and caring for the kids. Mwende had a great time “teaching” the little
kids. It was great seeing her pick up more Swahili words and interacting with
the others. The flu or malaria was battling
the kids and staff, so I became very familiar with the Kenya Relief medical
center. By God grace all the kids and
staff are doing well.
I celebrated Thanksgiving a little different this year. The staff and I conducted a three days VBS on
Being Thankful. The kids really enjoyed the new songs, lessons and dramas. We
didn’t do a flash mob but the kids learned the songs Every Praise and Thank You
Lord. I even made chicken and
dressing for dinner. The list is long of
all of the people and things I am very thankful for this year. Thank you so
much for standing with us.
I am scheduled to
teach a child care and development class with the staff in 2017. Pray for our
upcoming training classes. Pray for The shelter staff as they receive 12 more
kids in 2017.
Our move to Kisii
Kisii is about 6 hours southwest of Nairobi. Throughout 2016
I have been traveling between Kisii and Nairobi. God has given me several opportunities for
ministry in the Kisii area. All of the
above adventures is why I moved to Kisii. It was much less stressful moving to
Kisii than traveling back and forth weekly.
This has helped to stretch ministry muscles and take a step of faith to
help me continue to grow. We have open space for Mwende to play outside. She has met a few little girls to play with. Pray for us as we adjust to a new area,
find a church community and that we find drama, swimming or extra classes to
supplement our homeschooling.
Build a Mom
Valine has helped me with the house and taking care of
Mwende all of this year. She is a single
mom with an eight-year old son. She had
a dream on being a hairstylist, but because of income (or lack of) she was
unable to attend any school. Nairobi
Chapel challenged us to help one person out of poverty. With our move to Kisii and your support, we
are able to help Valine fulfill her dream. Valine started beauty school in
Oct. It is a seven-month program and she
will be fully licensed. My hope is to
help a mom or dad who is doing the right thing to get ahead and work in
productive long-term jobs to support their families. Pray for Valine and her studies.
This is a huge change for her from housekeeping to business woman. She attended the Business as ministry trainings
with the Willow Creek Chicago team. She
and her son Simon were able to enjoy their first Kenyan Safari. I will continue
to pay her monthly salary while she is in school. Pray she will have a job by June and transition well.
Mwende’s Birthday
party
We had a great birthday celebration for Mwende at New Life
Church. Ps Abel and Jane invited over 50
kids to enjoy a great lunch and cake with Mwende. She truly enjoyed her day. Pray
for us as we serve together, I learn to parent and do ministry, have fun as a
family, and grow in our faith.
Prayer and praise
We are praying for you.
I know quite a few are going through health, job and family issues. We stand with you in prayer.
Thank you so much for years of support. I am still in awe of God’s provision and
blessings through you. Thank you for the
churches, people and teams that come to visit and serve with the ministries we
partner with in Kenya. Thank you for the packages and notes of encouragement.
Pray for the retreat planned for our ministry partners in
March 2017. We need about $2000 to cover
the expenses to serve about 25 leaders.
I am very excited that Pastor Linda Marcell and team will be our
speakers. Pray that the details of location, music, attendance, funding and
speakers.
Pray for the upcoming trainings for children ministry,
Kairos and Children home staff throughout 2017.
Pray for Kenya!!! Elections are August 2017.
Pray for my visa renewal for Kenya. It is being processed now. I have an interview very soon.
Pray for Mwende’s US citizenship process. We are planning to come to the states late
July or August if her paperwork is cleared.
The final stage we must be in the states 6 months after approval.
We are praying for the States. The transition period and new
president Trump. I pray the church takes her place and stand in the gap for our
nation.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
JESUS. Celebrate Him.
Blessings to you and the New Year. With so much love and gratitude, Esther and
Mwende Hall
Kisii Address: Hall
P.O. Box 3135, Kisii, Kenya code 40200
Voice mail: 312 788-8843 (leave a
message I will hear it)
Ministry gifts: INSPIRE 180 518 S. Route 31 Suite 193 Mc Henry, IL
60050 or online www.inspire180.com