Thursday, December 15, 2016

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. 
   Meeting Gary and Bill Hybels in May was such a treat.  Bill came to speak to a room full of pastors and leaders from numerous local churches.  I missed the GLS this year so this was a taste of home.  Thanks Gary for the hugs. Pray for our leaders as they transition into new leadership styles and develop new leaders who love God and love people.
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.


We can’t thank God and you enough for the ability and support to do ministry in Kenya. I am looking forward to another year of service.  Thank you for your prayers, facebook notes, emails and financial support.  Continue to stand with us.  Life has its up and downs. There are unique challenges when you are not with family and in a cross cultural setting.  God has sustained us, challenged us, loved us, and I am sure laughed at us through these years. But I am eternally grateful that He has not released us from His grace and calling. I am thanking God for a few websites for missionary women (Velvet Ashes and Thrive) that has been affirming and insightful.
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

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