October Misson trip to Rongo.

I was in the Rongo area from the 9th to the 22nd of October on a mission trip. I had set out with the objective of visiting the various schools to which we had taken the information about the CML December 2007 Students' Camp, meet with the Christian Union(CU) Patrons and to collect confirmation forms from the students who have committed to attend the camp.

During the first week I visited Kanga High School only since most of the other schools were just returning from Mid-term holidays that week. I contacted the various CU Patrons on phone reminding them to gather the confirmation forms that were ready for my collection the following week. In the second week, I visited 5 schools, met with 6 CU Patrons and collected 17 confirmation forms. The schools I visited are: St. Alberts Ulanda Girls, Pe-Hill Boys, Mariwa Mixed(Boys & Girls), Dede Girls and Kanga Boys.

Of the 17 camp attendance confirmation forms collected so far, only one belongs to a student who attended the August CML Camp. The other 16 confirmations are from new students altogether. Since all the 14 students who attended the August Camp had verbally confirmed their interest to attend the December Camp, we can say that we have a total of 30 students' confirmations for the upcoming December CML Camp. Am yet to collect commitment forms from Dede Girls school, Kanyawanga Boys' School, Manyatta Boys' School, Kanyasrega Mixed School, Pe-Hill Boys' School and others that were not ready by the time I was leaving. I plan to travel back to Rongo in the first week of November to collect the remaining committment forms. Meanwhile, I will be contacting the parents/guardians of the 17 students whose committments we have received, to let them know who we are, our vision, what we do and what we aim to achieve at the December Camp. I will also be informing them that their children have shown interest in attending the camp and then request them to encourage and officially release the students.

Also while in Rongo, I had two missions to two schools: The first one was a CU Leaders handing over Ceremony at Kanga High on Saturday 20th and the other was a Prayer Service for Candidates at Mariwa Mixed School on Sunday 21st. At Kanga High School, I was accompanied by Jared Omondi one of the August Camp attendees (He has has been out of school most of the year, but thank God because he will resume school next year. Sister Tishona had assisted in raising funds towards his Tuition fees for next year). The former CU patron Mr. Sam Owino was the chief guest. I delivered a brief encouragement to the Outgoing leaders, Incoming leaders, all the CU members and to the CU patron/Teachers. We finally prayed together with the students and dedicated the candidates to the Lord with regard to the End year final exams.

At Mariwa Mixed School, I was accompanied by Jared and Pastor Jeremiah Oguttu from Kitere Community Assembly. Pastor Jeremiah and I both had opportunity to share a word of encouragement and pray with the candidates, dedicating them to the Lord on the eve of the Exams commencement. I shared with them a few tips on handling the exams. The Local PEFA Church pastor was hosting the occassion. The school's Board of Governors(BOG) Chairman was the chief guest at Mariwa Mixed School.

I re-visited the idea of involving the local teachers in CML programs in Rongo area with a few teachers. They seem to be pro the idea and some would help with the mobilization process. We agreed to discuss some strategies next time I visit. The CU patron of Owiro Akoko had a very good idea: she suggested we get to connect with the local District Education Office. She thinks once they get to know what we are doing, the local Education Office can help get the teachers officially involved in a way that will meet approval of the schools' administrations. We plan to pursue this strategy.

I also got to meet and fellowship with several students individually. I met Seth Odongo one of the Agust Camp attendees from Kanga High School. The object of our meeting was to get to know more about himself and his family background as an initial assessment to determine the validity of his needs, especially with regard to tuition fees. His case was identified by our facilitators during the August Camp. Our meeting turned into an informal counselling session at the end of which, we joined hands in faith, prayed together and asked God to intervene in his family situation and school fees issue. I discussed his situation with Mr. Kaunda the Principal at Kanga High School and he agreed to facilitate in getting the school to take care of half of Seth's fee balance. Mr. Kaunda asked CML to assist with the remaining half of the fee balance. The total tuition balance for this year is Kshs.17,400 (equivalent of about USD270). From this initial assessment, I did reckon that Seth is genuinely in need with regard to tuition fees. We are yet to meet his parent(s) in the next step of assessment. Meanwhile we trust God for intervention in Seth's situation.

Glory be to God Almighty.

September Mission Week in Rongo

Brother William spent a week in the Rongo area from Sunday the 16th of September to Saturday the 22nd of September. While there, he visited several High schools in the area sharing the December CML Camp information with the schools' administrations, ministering to students in two of the schools and facilitating the presentation of certificates to some of the students who attended the August CML Students' camp. He also got chance to meet two particular students who wanted to share personal testimonies of what has happened in their lives after they came from the August Camp.


He began the week at Kanyawanga Boys' High School on Sunday the 16th September teaching a session on Academic Excellence. As you can see by these photo's the students appreciated the teaching.

The Christian Union Patron at Kanyawanga, Mr. Francis Ojwang, presented student Joel Ogweno with his certificate from CML for participating in the CML students' camp in August of 2007.

Joel says he was busy sharing with a group of fellow students, the things he learned at the camp, when he was told Brother William was looking for him.



This photo shows Ken Ojuok receiving his CML certificate. We are excited to partner with the CU Patrons as we minister in schools.

Brother William is proud to stand with these "leaders among their peers" Joel Ogweno and Ken Ojuok, along with the CU Patron Mr. Francis Ojwang.

Brothers in Christ Ken and Joel proudly display their certificates.

Seth Odongo is proud to receive his certificate from Brother William at his school, Kanga Boys' High School. Seth has testified that after the August Camp, a number of his peers have approached him wanting to acknowledge that there is something different about him. He has shared with them about the last camp and several of them have indicated interest in the December Camp. Seth also confessed that he now believes strongly in answered prayers and has seen God's favour manifest in a special way concerning his tuition fees. He urged us to continue praying for him.

...and Brother William presenting a certificate to Evans Wagoro... Always thoughtful and articulate.

...and to Jared Marwa... He now believes strongly that God answers prayers because He has experienced it. He testifies when he reached home after the August camp, he found God had intervened in a situation at his home church that he had asked some of the CML team to pray with him about. He made a special request to Brother William to allow his elder brother to attend the next camp. He yearns for his brother to experience the transformation he has experienced.

...and to Peter Paiyineetto...Ready to join CML in the near future.

Brother William poses with all four students at their school and the venue for the August Camp, Kanga Boys' High School.

For a complete description of the camp, please read our blog entry entitled "The CML Students' Camp at Kanga High School..."







These two photo's show Elsie Obwanda, one of four girls in attendance at the August Camp, receiving her certificate at her school, St. Albert's Ulanda. Presenting the certificate is the CU Patron.


Here is Linah Obwanda, sister to Elsie, receiving her certificate at Mariwa Girls' School.


















This is Edna Otieno receiving her Certificate at the same school.

Some of the students at Mariwa High School during games/Social time at the school.

Mrs. Oyugi the CU Patron at Manyatta High school presenting the certificate to Joab Omondi at the school.

Brother William also had opportunity to minister to the Girls at Dede Girls High School on Academic Excellence. He highlighted the imprtance of Knowledge, Understanding, Wisdom, Motivation and Hard Work and Organization on the part of the students as some of the ingredients for Academic Excellence. He then Emphasized the truth that true Wisdom comes from God.

Staff members in the Counselling & Guidance Department and the Teache in charge of Students' Academic Affairs were in attendance.

Brother William met with an encouraging attitude towards the Vision of CML from all the teachers he met at the vairious schools. In the future, we are planning to strategically share the CML Vision with the supportive local teachers and get them involved as much as possible. We believe this will be strategic in facilitating on-going CML networking with and discipleship of students while on campus.