Dear CMK Family,
What God has done at the Wells, where the villages have all gathered to hear the Gospel, have us in awe! This is a clear and urgent time in history. It is just as the prophet Isaiah said...
“The time is coming to gather all nations and languages, and they will come and see My glory.”
When we gather together as many nations, tribes, and tongues with one purpose: to Love and Honor God, God's glory is on display!
What an awesome thing to witness God bringing us all together around His provision at these water wells. The entire community shows up to celebrate and praise God together and we share the Word of God and the beautiful truth of the Gospel of Jesus. His love is on display in such a tangible and undeniable way. At the well celebrations, hundreds gave their lives to Christ and were baptized publicly in the baptistry we construct at each site! Seeing their faces come up out of that water, new creations in CHRIST, is a miracle that always leaves us in awe. One woman was blind and received her sight! A visiting pastor who was there with us from Hammond recounted the miracle! Another elderly woman was sick and oppressed by a demon and was healed at the same moment the demon was cast out by the power of Jesus' name. Several others were ministered to as they came out of the waters of baptism and the demons fled. Many came forward to receive prayer after the Celebration and we know God is continuing to move.
This elderly man above walked four hours through the mountains to reach the village we were preaching and baptizing in. He was so happy to be baptized!!
This year in Kenya...
304 people were Baptized at the Community Well Celebrations!
3,800+ students gave their lives to Jesus in our School Outreaches
Four entire schools received new shoes for every child
Thousands of school children received school supplies
Miracles of healing were witnessed and demons were cast out
75 widows and teen mothers received goats and/or food
From these new projects alone, tens of thousands of people are receiving clean water for the first time!
Three amazing church mission teams joined us on outreach and many college students came and served with us for the summer
We're so incredibly thankful for everyone who heeded God's call to Go! These missions are by no means easy. They are life changing but they are also full of hardship. We have to give a huge shout out to three young missionaries who stayed with us serving tirelessly the whole season in Kenya this year. We know their sacrifice is treasured by God-- Scout Mounger, Jon Ross Welch and Legend Dicharry stayed the whole time with Joel and persevered through many long days of scouting, driving teams, and reaching the least. I (Joye) and our young missionaries Astair, Boston, Story, Ivy, and Soul were there from April to June. Four more college aged missionaries came to serve until the close of the season: Ben Coombs, Dio Varela, Dariyen Naranjo, and Nick Maranto. These guys are incredible servants of God and we're so thankful for their commitment to Him! Three of them were also baptized this year at the Maasai Well Celebration!
Another amazing missionary family came to serve with us this year as well: Erik and Megan Mwenda. They helped lead and plan outreaches as well as organized the shoe ministry which was a HUGE success this year thanks to their tireless work! We are so grateful for them!!
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom to the captives and recovery of sight for the blind, to set free the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
Jesus made it very clear what the anointing of the Spirit of the Lord is for. The ministry of the Holy Spirit as Jesus quotes it is for number 1: the preaching of the good news specifically to the poor, number 2: the proclamation of freedom for the captives, number 3: the recovery of sight to the blind, number 4: to set free the oppressed, and number 5: to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.
This is what we allow the Holy Spirit to anoint us for! This is the purpose of the Spirit of God coming upon us and it's how we recognize and submit to the work of the Holy Spirit. Where the Gospel is reaching the poor, the Holy Spirit is there. Where the blind see and the captives and oppressed are set free, the Holy Spirit is there. Let's go to the poor then. Let's go to the oppressed and the blind and those sitting in captivity.
Let us keep going, knowing this is why we have the Holy Spirit!
That is exactly what everyone who has served and supported, prayed and given this year has done--allowed the Holy Spirt to move through them. Thank you for being led by the Holy Spirit! We're eternally grateful for every one of you!
Every team that came and served brought the presence of God with them. They filled the atmosphere with worship and prayer and laid down lives. It was a blessing to partner with Pathway Church, Livingstones Church, and Bethany Church. Phil and Donna, Joel's mom and dad. led a team again this year and we always look forward to the anointed worship that fills the remote hills of Kenya when they’re here!
We're thankful as well for the local outreach team we partner with every year. Pastor Benson and his outreach team is always a blessing. Pastor Amos and his youth as well. Damaris is leading five women's bible study groups now! I (Joye) enjoyed meeting with them and getting to teach bible studies as well as ministering at local churches. We're thankful for all the work of Simon, our driller, and Mayor and Lily, our construction and village planners as well as Ally who worked as mechanic and Pam who came to keep our home team fed when I was away. For all the photos Astair captures every year and for the ones Jon Ross captured as well. We are so grateful for every one!
Every single person makes a difference. The Holy Spirit makes us one.
Prayer Points:
For all the new believers in Kenya
For those who came and served to be refreshed
For the gospel to be proclaimed to the poor, the blind, and the captives
For resources for more wells for those in deepest need
Joel and I will be traveling to several countries before the end of the year--Turkey, Iraq, and Pakistan. Joel will be in Paraguay at one point. Keep us in your prayers as we will keep you in our prayers as well
Until Jesus Returns!
Joel and Joye Dicharry and our Family