Church Mission Society Ireland

Church Mission Society Ireland (CMSI) Team Visit to Kenya July 2018

CMSI exits to equip the church in Mission and is working in partnership with the Church of Ireland and churches in Africa and Asia over many years. Volunteers are invited to join Mission Experience Teams visiting various countries and Mission Partners each year.

Twende (Go)Team members Rev. David & Lorna Palmer (Magherally Parish) with Robert Hoffman and David Tough (Tralee & Dingle Union of Parishes) had volunteered and prepared to visit CMSI Mission Partners Ronnie & Maggie Briggs working with the Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) Kajiado Diocese for two weeks in July.

Following a Commissioning Service in Seagoe Parish Church, we were delighted to welcome Rev. Roger Thompson from CMSI to St. John’s Church, Tralee where we had an African themed service before we left for Kenya.

Mission and Development

Bishop Gaddiel Lenini formally welcomed the team to the Diocese and we got an understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing a growing church. The Diocese has about 50 Parishes with about 90 Clergy, Lay readers and Evangelists. There is a vision of growth and the challenge is to sustain that growth. The Diocese in partnership with CMSI and the church in Ireland has two driving forces: 1 Mission and outreach 2. Meeting physical and social needs. Bishop Gaddiel stressed that Mission and Development go hand-in-hand - “an empty stomach has no ears”.

Oloyoosian Girls Secondary school

Lorna, who is a singer, musician and leads a Gospel Choir spent some time at Oloyoosian Girls Secondary school, teaching the girls some songs for Sunday service in the Cathedral. It didn't help that the electricity was off for most of the day and the keyboard malfunctioned, however such are the challenges that have to be overcome through perseverance and prayer.

Masai Rural Training Centre (MRTC)

Robert, who is a farmer, spent some time at MRTC Isinya. Here he experienced a hands-on approach to livestock management, vaccinating cattle, dipping sheep and baling hay by hand.

The MRTC’s are part of the Diocesan Mission and Development programme. The 4 pillars, Church, Agriculture, Health and Education are supported by Sustainability through income generating projects and Ronnie and Maggie have the job of managing their rejuvenation and development.

Seminars for Clergy, Lay Readers and Evangelists

The two Davids participated in training seminars for Clergy, Lay Readers and Evangelists both at Kajiado and at Imberikani speaking on Spiritual Leadership and the Call to Ministry. We were very encouraged by the large enthusiastic turnout and the powerful testimonies of several of the participants. The participants were grateful for the training received and there is a real hunger for good Biblical teaching.

Pastoral Visits

We had the privilege of sharing in pastoral visits to people in their homes. In both homes we were warmly welcomed and shared fellowship together along with piles of food and copious cups of chai (tea).

In the first home we met Mama Helen and her daughter Patricia. At one time, Helen had been very Ill, having tried doctors and hospitals without cure. She had a great interest in the work of the Sunday School and when she saw the children sitting on the ground, she went out and bought some chairs for them. From that time on she was healed of her illness, Bwana asifiwe – Praise the Lord!

In the second home we met Monica and her friend Ann, along with some of Monica's grandchildren. Please pray for for Ann that her back may be healed and that her family may make the right decisions.

Emmanuel Cathedral, Kajiado

Emmanuel Cathedral was the setting for two services on our first Sunday. The Olyoosian Girls Secondary school choir performed songs directed by Lorna. The team members all introduced themselves and Rev. David Palmer gave the sermon. We all felt truly blessed to experience such lively worship (you wouldn’t think that 4 hours in church could be so enjoyable!)

Land Rover Safari

Land rover fully loaded we set off on the long journey to Oltiaska. Good tarmac roads gave way to graded roads then dirt track roads with some detours through the bush from time to time. There's no doubt that a good vehicle is essential for travel around the Diocese. The Land Rover is quite old and in need of major overhaul or replacement, but an essential vehicle for Ronnie & Maggie to travel around the remote areas of the Diocese. Please pray that funds may be found for its refurbishment or replacement.

A highlight of the journeys was seeing wildlife along the way and in Amboseli National Park, including various gazelles and antelope, giraffe, ostriches, zebra, elephants, wildebeest, hyenas and lions all in their natural surroundings.

St. Paul’s Church and Training Centre, Imberikani

At St. Paul’s Church and Training Centre, Imberikani a classroom was prepared for the Training seminars for Lay Readers and Clergy held over two days. Walls, floor, windows, tables and chairs were cleaned and it began to look like a classroom. However, there is a lot of work to be done to bring the building up to standard and we pray that the grants applied for from ESB Electric Aid will come through.

Outside, trenches were dug for water and electricity supplies. The late and intermittent arrival of building materials added to the challenges facing the church in this beautiful but remote area, from training of church leaders to building up sustainable infrastructure. There is great vision to expand the centre to include accommodation and staff houses so that it may be used as a Diocesan Training Centre for that area. In time, it is planned to hold various training courses there, including Adult Literacy, Computer and IT skills, Clergy and Lay reader Training.

Oltiaska MRTC and Osinoni Hideaway

At Osinoni Hideaway, Oltiasika, at the foot of the Chulu Hills, once again we received a warm welcome from the staff. As we took in the view of the surrounding hills, the plains below and Kilimanjaro in the distance, surely this must be one of the most beautiful places to be and when you look up at the starry sky at night one can't help but be in awe of the wonder of God's creation.

At Oltiaska MRTC we saw the potential for development in this place. The original school, health clinic and vocational training centre have been taken over by the Government. A herd of 70 special breed Gala goats are used to improve the local herds and along with renting some houses provide valuable income for sustainability of the centre.

Perhaps the most impressive project is the water catchment and water tanks that had been refurbished by Tuam Diocese last year. Here up to 600,000 litres of water can be stored for distribution to the local community. About 300 women draw water 4 times a week. Each load of about 60 litres, which is very heavy, is carried home and can be used by perhaps 8 or 10 people. One storage tank is now covered and this makes a big difference to the quality of the water. The plan is to cover the other two tanks and eventually build a fourth one. Water is vital for life. The only source of water here is from the rain which quickly soaks into the ground. Most buildings will catch rainwater from the roof into a storage tank. The large catchment and storage tanks are of great benefit to the whole community.

Women’s Empowerment

David and Lorna presented to the Women’s Empowerment Group. The woman were encouraged for their value both in the community and before God. In a society where women do most of the hard work, we pray that this group may continue and strengthen the women there. It is also hoped to develop craftwork skills as an income generating project which will help give some financial independence.

St. Patrick’s Church, Lemasusu

It was a real privilege to attend Sunday morning service at St. Patrick’s Church, Lemasusu, particularly for Lay Reader David as he had been involved in the Pamoja Team that built the church in 2006.

Conclusion

Despite the many challenges facing the church in Kenya, it is a growing church, and we were very impressed by the sincere welcome we received from everyone and how people speak so openly and naturally about their faith in Christ.

Special thanks to Ronnie & Maggie Briggs and all the various hosts who looked after us so well in Kenya and to the CMSI Staff at home for all the preparation and support both before and during our visit. A big “Thank You” also to all our family, friends and parishioners for the generous support we have received for the various projects in Kenya. To date over €5000 euro was raised by Robert and David over and above the team costs which we funded ourselves.

Please pray for these projects and the people we met in Kajiado Diocese. For those interested, Twende Team are available to share the good news of God's work in Mission and Development in Kajiado Diocese. Bwana Asifiwe, Praise the Lord.

David Tough

July 2018

Report for Newslink, Parish and Diocesan Websites, Diocesan Council for Mission

Church Mission Society Ireland (CMSI) Team Visit to Kenya July 2018

At Nairobi Airport we were met by Rev. Naftali, Maggie and Ronnie who brought us to the ACK Guesthouse in Kajiado. Tired but excited to be in Kenya at last, we looked up at a beautiful starry sky and were reminded of Philippians 2 v.15 “... in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life...”

Mission and Development

Bishop Gaddiel Lenini formally welcomed the team to the Diocese and as we met the various Diocesan personnel we got an understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing a growing church. The Diocese has about 50 Parishes with about 90 Clergy, Lay readers and Evangelists. There is a vision of growth and the challenge is to sustain that growth. The Diocese in partnership with CMSI and the church in Ireland has two driving forces: 1 Mission and outreach 2. Meeting physical and social needs. Bishop Gaddiel stressed that Mission and Development go hand-in-hand - “an empty stomach has no ears”.

Oloyoosian Girls Secondary school

Lorna, who is a singer, musician and leads a Gospel Choir spent some time at Oloyoosian Girls Secondary school, a boarding school for 120 girls. Here we learned from Principal Joyce that just to have a new shower block is the envy of many other schools around and the school also has ambitious plans for expansion. Lorna worked with the girls teaching them some songs for Sunday service in the Cathedral and sharing some Jamaican folk traditions. It didn't help that the electricity was off for most of the day and the keyboard malfunctioned, however such are the challenges that have to be overcome through perseverance and prayer. By Sunday it had all come together and the girls conducted by Lorna sang during the services in the Cathedral.

Masai Rural Training Centre (MRTC)

Robert, who is a farmer himself, spent some time at MRTC Isinya. Here he experienced a hands-on approach to livestock management, vaccinating cattle, dipping sheep and baling hay by hand.

Back in the 1960’s there was a bad drought and many cattle and other livestock were dying. For the Masai people, their livestock are their livelihood. The government was in transition from colonialism to independence and were looking for a centre for food distribution. At Isinya there was a former prison camp that had held the Mau Mau after the struggle for independence.

The MRTC was set up by CMS which was the Anglican church in Kenya in those days. It had 4 pillars: the church, agriculture, education and health. There was great expansion during the 70’s and 80’s mainly funded from various European countries, and 6 outlying MRTC ‘s were developed around Masailand. Then following the fall of the Berlin wall in 1998, funding in Europe was redirected towards eastern Europe, and the MRTC ‘s went into decline.

Now, the MRTC’s are part of the Diocesan Mission and Development programme. The 4 pillars, Church, Agriculture, Health and Education are supported by Sustainability through income generating projects and Ronnie and Maggie have the job of managing their rejuvenation and development.

Seminars for Clergy, Lay Readers and Evangelists

The two Davids participated in training seminars for Clergy, Lay Readers and Evangelists both at Kajiado and at Imberikani. We were very encouraged by the large turnout and enthusiasm of the participants. Pastor David spoke on Spiritual Leadership and the Call to Ministry, comparing the call by God to various Old Testament prophets. The powerful testimonies of several of the participants was also very encouraging. Lay Reader David also spoke on the Call to Ministry and on the Role of a Lay Reader, comparing the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and challenges in both the church in Ireland and the church in Kenya. The participants were grateful for the training received and there is a real hunger for good Biblical teaching.

By going our separate ways, the Twende Team was growing together, reminding us of Ephesians 4:11 “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry in the building up the body of Christ “

Pastoral Visits

We had the privilege of sharing in pastoral visits to people in their homes, accompanied by local Pastors and members of the Mothers' Union. In both homes we were warmly welcomed and shared fellowship together along with piles of food and copious cups of chai (tea).

In the second home we met Monica and her friend Ann, along with some of Monica's grandchildren. Please pray for for Ann that her back may be healed and that her family may make the right decisions.

David and Lorna went to visit Jason O'lemoke who had stayed at their home when he was training in Ireland with CMSI. They received a warm welcome and were given a lovely present if traditional Masai costumes.

At home Robert has a friend George who had spent many years in Kenya and was considered a white Masai. George had a good friend William whom Robert and David visited. William showed us around his large ranch where he has 500 head of cattle. He has also developed a resort centre complete with swimming pool and other amenities.

Emmanuel Cathedral, Kajiado

Emmanuel Cathedral was the setting for two services on our first Sunday, one in English followed by one in Swahili. At both we experienced powerful singing and fervent prayer. The Olyoosian Girls Secondary school choir performed songs directed by Lorna including a version of The Lord's prayer in Swahili. Rev. David Palmer gave the sermon preaching on the story of the beheading of John the Baptist. His message called for us to avoid the kingdom of darkness and to embrace the kingdom of light. The team members all introduced themselves and we all felt truly blessed to experience such lively worship (you wouldn’t think that 4 hours in church could be so enjoyable!)

Land Rover Safari

Land rover fully loaded with luggage, various provisions, 20 chairs and a wooden clipboard, we set off on the long journey to Oltiaska. The roads were described as the good, the bad and the ugly. Good tarmac roads gave way to graded roads then dirt track roads with some detours through the bush from time to time. There's no doubt that a good vehicle is essential for travel around the Diocese. The Land Rover is quite old and in need of major overhaul or replacement, but an essential vehicle for Ronnie & Maggie to travel around the remote areas of the Diocese. Please pray that funds may be found for its refurbishment or replacement.

A very pleasant stop for tea was made at ACK Guesthouse Salama, where a very high standard of accommodation and facilities were seen. Another stop at a food market showed the abundance of fresh produce available as we bought some supplies. The particularly long rains earlier in the year have made a big difference to the landscape, the livestock and the food produced.

A highlight of the journeys was seeing wildlife along the way and in the beautiful Amboseli National Park, including various gazelles and antelope, giraffe, ostriches, zebra, elephants, wildebeest, hyenas and lions all in their natural surroundings.

St. Paul’s Church and Training Centre, Imberikani

At St. Paul’s Church and Training Centre, Imberikani a classroom was prepared for the Training seminars for Lay Readers and Clergy held over two days. Walls, floor, windows, tables and chairs were cleaned and along with wooden flipchart holder, it began to look like a classroom. However, there is a lot of work to be done to bring the building up to standard and we pray that the grants applied for will come through.

Outside, trenches were dug for water and electricity supplies. In the nearby church, repairs to the plaster revealed that it was all in bad shape. So it all has to be stripped off and the walls re-plastered, adding additional cost to the project. The late and intermittent arrival of building materials added to the challenges facing the church in this beautiful but remote area, from training of church leaders to building up sustainable infrastructure.

However, with the assistance of grants from ESB Electric Aid, it is hoped that these improvements can be made. There is great vision to expand the centre to include accommodation and staff houses so that it may be used as a Diocesan Training Centre for that area. In time, it is planned to hold various training courses there, including Adult Literacy, Computer and IT skills, Clergy and Lay reader Training.

As the building materials arrived and the work continued laying in the water pipes, replastering the walls and wiring the classrooms we began to see the potential of this place and how it fits into that vision of the Diocese for Mission and Development.

Oltiaska MRTC and Osinoni Hideaway

At Osinoni Hideaway, Oltiasika, at the foot of the Chulu Hills, once again we received a warm welcome from the staff. A cup of chai on the veranda was also very welcome as we took in the view of the surrounding hills, the plains below and Kilimanjaro in the distance. Surely this must be one of the most beautiful places to be and when you look up at the starry sky at night one can't help but be in awe of the wonder of God's creation.

“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills whence cometh my help. My help comes from the Lord who has made heaven and earth. “Psalm 121: 1,2

At Oltiaska MRTC we saw the potential for development in this place. The original school, health clinic and vocational training centre have been taken over by the Government, however the vocational training is not going at present. A herd of 70 special breed Gala goats are used to improve the local herds and along with renting some houses provide valuable income for sustainability of the centre.

Perhaps the most impressive project is the water catchment and water tanks that had been refurbished by Tuam Diocese last year. Here up to 600,000 litres of water can be stored for distribution to the local community. About 300 women draw water 4 times a week. Each load of about 60 litres, which is very heavy, is carried home and can be used by perhaps 8 or 10 people. One storage tank is now coveted and this makes a big difference to the quality of the water. The plan is to cover the other two tanks and eventually build a fourth one. Water is vital for life. The only source of water here is from the rain which quickly soaks into the ground. Most buildings will catch rainwater from the roof into a storage tank. The large catchment and storage tanks are of great benefit to the whole community.

Women’s Empowerment

David and Lorna presented to the Women’s Empowerment Group, this being their inaugural meeting. There was joyful singing and the woman were encouraged for their value both in the community and before God. In a society where women do most of the hard work, we pray that this group may continue and strengthen the women there.

There was also opportunity for us to bargain for Masai souvenirs brought by some of the local women. It is hoped to develop these craftwork skills as an income generating project which will help give some financial independence.

St. Patrick’s Church, Lemasusu

It was a real privilege to attend Sunday morning service at St. Patrick’s Church, Lemasusu. There was much singing and dancing of praise and worship songs. Pastor David’s sermon on the Parable of the Sower was well received. It was particularly moving for Lay Reader David as he had been involved in the Pamoja Team that built the church in 2006 and was delighted to meet again some of the people he had met on that occasion.

Conclusion

Now picture a traditional Masai goat roast around the camp fire, with the men and women in their best Masai dress, singing and dancing, and Kilimanjaro glowing in the setting sun – a wonderful end to a great time in Osinoni Hideaway.

1. The Water Catchment and Storage Tanks at Oltiasika – covering the two open tanks, and providing a 4^th tank for additional storage capacity.

2. The refurbishment of St. Paul’s Church and Training Centre at Imberikani

3. The refurbishment or replacement of the Diocesan Land Rover used by CMSI Mission Partners, Ronnie and Maggie Briggs

Please pray for these projects and the people we met in Kajiado Diocese.

For those interested, Twende Team are available to share the good news of God's work in Mission and Development in Kajiado Diocese.

Bwana Asifiwe, Praise the Lord.

David Tough

July 2018