To Pray and to Live in Community

Work has gotten busy lately here at Engineering Ministries International (EMI) East Africa. It continues to go well, though. I have been working two projects: the African Children's Choir Training Center and Daystar University, Kenya dam and reservoir improvements.

However, amid all the work and deadlines, the EMI East Africa office was able to take some time last Wednesday to have a Day of Prayer. All of the office - staff, volunteers, and interns - spent the day focusing on our community. Specifically the focus was on Heritage Zone, the area in which the office is located.

The purpose of the Day of Prayer was to interact with the people in our zone, determine the prayer needs of the community, pray with them, and serve them by meeting an immediate physical need. All the while we kept in mind the example of the prophet Habakkuk: he presented his struggles and questions with what was going on in his nation before the Lord, striving in prayer, he waited expectantly for the answer, and he accepted the sovereignty of God in His response.

The EMI office divided into four groups, and I was part of a group that went on a walk through the Heritage Zone community in the morning. Along the way, we talked with different people and found out what has been going on in the community and what the current needs are. One of the individuals we met was Pastor James of Pure Hearts Church. After living in the area for a year, Pastor James has seen an encouraging transformation so far. A community that was previously plagued by substance abuse, prostitution, and witchcraft has turned into an area of hope and development. Pastor James expressed the need for further intercession though, and asked us to join with him in prayer - especially for the church to be more intentional in discipling the youth in the community.

Pastor James sharing the prayer needs of the community

In the afternoon, my group joined up with another to do some work at King of Kings Primary School. This school was started and is run by lady called Florence. Florence provides education for the children in the community and continues to develop the school through prayer and the Lord's provision. However, the school is built in a swamp area that has trouble with flooding whenever it rains. EMI saw a need that we could help with and decided to partner with Florence. The rest of the day was spent using hardcore, gravel, and dirt transported to the school to build it up and make it less susceptible to flooding. 

The flooding around the school after rainfall

Working to raise the ground level around the school 

Raising the ground level inside the lower classroom

Hauling blocks for the pathway

The finished pathway to the latrine

A well-traversed pipeline running through the swamp area

Florence with intern David 

The Day of Prayer was a good reminder of our call to live in community. We were able to see and hear the needs of our own community and join with those already working there in prayer and intercession. We were also able to work to meet one of those needs. Florence (who worked alongside us all day) could not stop expressing her happiness and gratitude to God for our help. And it was a blessing to me to see the joy that simple service can bring. What a privilege it was to experience the Lord's grace at work that day!


Also, last Saturday we had an EMI Family Fun Day. The East Africa office staff and families gathered together at the beautiful grounds of Acacia Classical Academy. There was food and games and a massive blow-up water slide. Corinne was also able to attend that day. : )  It was an awesome time of fellowship and appreciation for departing interns Belinda and David!

EMI EA staff and families at Family Fun Day

Blessings!

Daniel

Saved from the Pit

I wrap my arms around his frail body. He is marked with wounds that testify to the mistreatment that he once faced. His wounds are healing, but they aren't disappearing; they're leaving scars. To me, it reflects the emotional wounds that he has, and I pray that those are also healing.

As I hold this little boy, 4 years old and just 17 pounds, I think of all that he's experienced. Just one week ago he was trapped in a pit. How did he survive? Did he even cry? My heart breaks and cries out to God - how could He allow something like this to happen? Why didn't God bring this little boy to GSF months ago. But He did - why did we ever give him back to the family? This could've been avoided. It was ALMOST avoided.

And yet God didn't work things out that way. In His sovereignty, he allowed this little boy to go through this horrifying experience that nearly led to death. But it didn't lead to death; God rescued this little life. He loves this little boy more than any of us do. God could've brought him to GSF months and even weeks ago, but He had other plans. God protected his life because He wasn't done with it. I believe God sent an angel to sit with this little boy during each hour and day in the pit. The angel kept him from being crushed or drowned in the muck he was sitting in. God brought a villager to the pit to rescue him, and it was God that brought him to safety here at GSF. I praise God who heard this boy's cry and rescued him from the pit.

"I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord." Psalm 40:1-3

It doesn't make sense that this little boy is alive, but he is. It's a miracle that testifies to God's redemption, grace, and love. But in reality, each of our lives are a miracle that testifies to God's redemption, grace, and love. Spiritually, we are all in a pit before God's saving hand reaches down and saves us. It is a pit of sin that we could never climb out ourselves. But God knows we are there, and He sent His son to rescue us and make us new again. Maybe we have scars in our life, but let them remind us of God's saving grace.

And I cry out to God, begging Him to heal this little boy. Although he will probably always remain with scars, both physical and emotional, may they be used as a reminder of God's saving grace.

God isn't done with this child's story; let's all pray for this little boy as God continues His story of redemption.

"Put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption." Psalm 130:7