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