Books for the CML Library

The vision of the CML Library is finally becoming a reality! Several hundred books, including 216 Bibles, are currently on their way to Kenya and are expected to arrive some time in March.

The library is just a small part of the CML Resource Center vision, whose goal is to provide a multi-purpose resource facility for students, youth, pastors and the local people in the Kitere community. Until we have sufficient financial means for building the Resource Center, the library will be operated from the Glory Community Church compound (next to our house) in Kitere Village of Rongo District.

The books that were donated are varied in nature; ranging from Christian materials such as Bible Study guides, Discipleship materials and Bibles, to educational textbooks and classical literature .

While English is spoken and read by a considerable percentage of the people, especially the youth, there are no libraries in the community and the school libraries are mere empty halls without books. In addition, most families in this area survive as subsistence farmers and as such cannot afford to buy books. The students and pastors are eager to read and study the Word and we believe these books & Bibles will serve as a great resource to facilitate our Discipleship ministry in this area.

We thank God for all those that donated books and helped make the shipment possible. In addition to the many books he sent last year, Rev. John Maurice Quillen from Talbott again contributed several boxes of Christian books from his private library. Rev. John Thompson from Dandridge, donated 216 Bibles for the Students ministry and Mr. & Mrs. Jeff Fox gave several boxes of literary books. Other donations were received from Rocky Point Baptist Church and Marty & Lana Luttrell. We also thank Rocky Point Baptist Church for helping facilitate the shipping of the books from Tennessee to Texas where they were loaded onto the container.

Most importantly, we thank Ronnie & Debbie Matheny for graciously allowing us to ship the books in their container. The Mathenys are missionaries from Texas and are leaders of the Clarence Matheny Ministries with a Leadership and Conference Facility in Nairobi, Kenya. You may recognize their names from our post last year when we attended a Marriage Conference and Youth Conference at the Clarence Matheny Ministries. Thanks Ronnie & Debbie!

We are also very grateful to David & Janene Waldrop, Missionaries in Kenya from Dandridge, TN for connecting us with the Mathenys. The Waldrops have become such dear friends and are from Denise’s former hometown in Tennessee (how interesting that they met for the 1st time in Nairobi, Kenya!).

To many others that we have not mentioned here, but have contributed in other ways towards the CML Library, we thank you. God certainly uses partnerships in divine connections to get His work accomplished!

We look forward to returning home soon to oversee the building of book shelves and setting up of the Library, and continue to be expectant as God provides for His work.

What is still needed to complete this task:

1. $2,100 to complete the work at the temporary CML Resource Center- partitioning, beds & bedding, chairs, desks, bookshelves and the toilet

2. Help with sorting the books and setting up a Library System. We invite volunteers to come on short-term mission trips to assist.

Your partnership is vital and appreciated. Together, we can make it happen for God’s glory.

Blessings!

Update on our US visit

Hard to believe we have been here 4 months already! With the hustle and bustle surrounding the Holidays and a busy schedule, the time just seems to be flying by.

Our days continue to be filled with visiting ministry partners, speaking at schools, fundraising and attending various events. And while we are seriously missing our family & friends in Kenya, we are also enjoying our time here and believe that God has a purpose for all that we are doing.

Below is a brief update of what's been going on the past few months.

Upon arrival, we were greeted by family & friends at the airport and later given a wonderful reception by our sister Sharon at Rocky Point Baptist Church.

William's first visit to the US consist of a number of "1st time experiences". From riding a roller-coaster, to boating on the lake, seeing snow, experiencing Halloween, decorating a Christmas tree, playing basketball, eating REAL pizza, seeing the Smoky Mountains and more....... the list goes on and on!

In October, we spent 5 days in Tupleo, MS with Global Outreach International attending the "Missionary Orientation and Training” (MOT). In addition to reviewing policies and procedure changes, we participated in exciting and informative teaching sessions that were both encouraging and educational regarding issues that can affect the longevity of our time in the mission filed. Issues like spiritual warfare, moral purity, culture stress, maintaining intimacy with God, setting personal & ministry priorities, establishing budgets and managing finances.

We have been invited to speak at several local schools since our arrival and have been so excited to share facts about Kenya and our ministry with American students. Below, William is talking to 6th graders at Lincoln Middle School. We have also addressed student's at Whitesburg Elementary, Jefferson County High School and Meadowview Middle.

In November we attended the "Hearts on Fire" Youth Conference with the youth from Rocky Point Baptist Church. What a blessing to spend 3 days in Gatlinburg with such a great group of energetic and enthusiastic youth!

The weekend of January 22nd - 24th we were again blessed when invited to attend the Resurrection 2010 Youth Retreat along with the youth of Dandridge First United Methodist Church. A special treat during the Retreat,was being able to spend a few minutes with Pastor Hugh Kilgore and his wife Susette. Hugh was one of the founders of the Resurrection Youth Ministry and my Pastor years ago. It was under his leadership that I surrendered my life to Christ and I am eternally grateful to him and his family for modeling Christ's unconditional love!

There is much more to report and I will continue to update this post with events and pictures as the Internet will allow.

Blessings,

Denise