Finding Water in Masaiiland

I ask our Lord Savior Jesus Christ to open their hearts for whoever
reads this Living Water Letter, Peace and Praise to our God. Amen!

After I got the great news about "The Digging Of The Well".

Last month I was in Kenya (Africa) to give God's word to those
precious and wonderful women in Kenya. Our Lord God opened my heart that
day, to teach these women about THE WOMAN OF THE WELL. As I know that,
in the town Bay Leaf B. Church was going to build a Well for
the Village to get water.

I began telling when the Samaritan woman came to draw water, JESUS
said, to her, "Will you give me a drink"? She did not know what kind
Water He was talking about. The Samaritan woman said to HIM, "You
are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a
drink?"(For Jews do not associate with Samaritans. I told them the
water that Jesus Christ offers is the Living Water of "Eternal Life".  But
this Well that they are going to dig is for the nurturing to our
body. I told them that we need both. I reminded them, that when we
are in Christ Jesus, we associate with everybody because Christ loves
everyone. Therefore, we should be doing the same thing. Forgiving one
another as Jesus forgave us. I encouraged them to walk together to get
the water at the Well, and pray together and Praise God for all that
He has done for them. Are you going to do that? They answered to me:
Yes. We are going to Praise Him and worship Him. Amen! For of Him, and
through Him, and to Him, are all things to Whom be glory
forever. (Romans11:36). These women love The Living God. They are
thirsty as The Woman of the Well. Is something about them that makes
me humble. I love these women. My heart is filled with joy when I
am with them giving God's word. Many times I asked our Lord Jesus
Christ: Did I miss anything? My heart is open and full of love for
them. When I looked at them: I cannot have much to say. Just Love
them. Love is the fruit of the spirit.

Back to the Woman at the well, Jesus told her "believe me woman, a time is
coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor
in Jerusalem". I told them you can worship Jesus Christ everywhere.
When the Well will be dug you will have water, and do not forget who
gave to you. The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The God who gave you
Eternal Life. All they said: AMEN!!!!!!!

I told them do not be sad: because NOTHING neither
height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to
separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
When you feel tired, hungry, thirsty look to heaven and say: Jesus
help me. And He will help you. These women are a treasure to my heart.
My love for them, I cannot describe. God has given me a passion for
them.

Isaac the Peacemaker, his Well God gave the power to have more and
more water. My prayer will be that God will do the same thing for this Well
in Kenya. In the Massailand. As they are preparing the feast to give
the glory to God, I will be praying for all of them. And I told them
to go out and tell all about the Samaritan Woman. They said to Emily
the translator: we are going out to tell about Jesus Christ.

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In
this world you will have trouble. but take heart! I have overcome the
world." John 14:27.

Blessings,
Lena Reyes

 

The Well............The Living Water

Bayleaf had a Run a few months ago to raise money for a well that is in the works for Pastor Peter.  While we were there I asked if we could walk to the site and see where it will be drilled.  The site is off to the side of Liberty Baptist Church about a quarter mile in the brush.  A couple of spots were chosen but the main place for drilling is marked by a mound of stacked rocks.  The area is full of volcanic rock and they think they may have to drill as deep as 500 feet.  Walter Haskins explained the procedure in great detail to us.  Oh course there is no guarantee that potable water will be found.  There is a salt water lake south of this site.  Please pray for fresh water!

The team formed a circle around the rock mound and we all prayed for the Living water to come.  Lena and I made stick crosses and encircled the site.  It was wonderful to feel Gods presence with the wind and smell of the earth with Masaai and American unified in prayer.  Pray for the Living water.

We were hoping the drill rig would come while we were in the country but it did not.  Pray that the company will begin the drilling soon.  The site will be a co-op of sorts and it will be used for people and livestock.  There will be a tower with a huge tank and will be powered by a diesel motor.  Pray for details to fall into place.

They are living through a terrible drought and they told us that it hasn't rained in one year.  The "water spots" they used for themselves and livestock are dried up.  One woman told us that she gets up at 3am and walks 13+ miles one way to collect water for her family.  The water may not even be clean.  Hopefully they have mules to carry the load.  The men have the herds far from home just trying to keep them alive. 

This fact kept the men from our teaching sessions and there were definitely fewer women this year.  The men of the area had a emergency tribal meeting while we were there to try to come up with some type of plan for a water source because it is critical.  There is no shortage of children and I think I saw more babies than livestock this time.  Please pray for these beautiful people!

Humbled to be Honored by Amy Warr

Humbled to be Honored

The morning started with a jarring ride down a rocky, dusty road. Two hours later, we turned onto a slightly smoother although dustier path. Finally, we found ourselves and our van in the Kenyan bush, driving through dry creek beds, over rocks, around thorn trees. The pastor who was navigating for us lost the way - there was a large rock cropping that the van could not traverse. So he and our driver got out and climbed up on the rock. He whistled and soon heard an answer from a fellow Maasai. We started again and found Sammy, who guided us the rest of the way in to where we were going to share the gospel..."even to the remotest part of the earth." [wink.]

The van stopped close to a tin church building, Olikarikara, where children were having school. A few of them were outside and smiled shyly at the mzungus. We waved. As we walked by them, they bowed their heads in greeting. We touched the top of their head and said "supa!," returning the greeting. That is how young Maasai greet those older than they. Sadly, we were not able to share with them at school. We walked  a short distance past the church/school, along a path that wound around another rock to a boma. The boma is a fenced in compound of mud huts that a Maasai family calls home. They don't get many mzungu visitors here. Polygamy is common, so each wife has her own home in the boma.

While the news was given (visitors!), we waited under acacia and thorn trees. It was shady with large rocks to sit on, peaceful and calm. Looking toward the fence of the boma, we could see little ones, curious. I waved and smiled. The older would wave back, the younger not so sure about these new faces. Eventually four Maasai ladies joined us from the boma. They had dressed up in their beautiful beaded Maasai jewelry that they make by hand and colorful cloth wraps. The Maasai love color, especially red. It makes them stand out with the animals on the side of the hills, for they are herders of sheep, goats, and cattle.

We greeted them as they came out to the shade tree. One lady brought plastic chairs. The visitor's seats. I think she walked down to the church/school to get them and carried them back up - for us. They insisted we have the chairs while they took the rocks, or ground. That's the way it is.  Even for the women visitors. In both African cultures I've interacted with, this is what they do. The men are most important, for lack of a better term. The women are the workers and servants, preparing food, keeping house, caring for the children, getting water. The children are loved but not spoiled. But visitors - they are honored. Men, women, and children. When having a meal - the guests are served and the men might eat with them, but the women eat elsewhere as do the children. There are always chairs brought for the visitors, no matter how far a walk it is to find and return with them. We are given the best that they have.
Seats, food, water. Sometimes all that they have. It is humbling to be the recipient of that honor.

You see, I'm just a single girl who wears blue jeans and sneakers (that is, when I wear shoes at all). I like to play with kids and tell them about Jesus. In their culture, I'd be the one carrying the chairs and getting the water. And even though as an American I have more money than they do, were the comparison culture to culture, my house is fairly similar to that mud hut and tin church building (and I like it that way). So I'm perfectly happy sitting on the rock under the tree with the children around me. But they were honored by my visit, so they brought me a chair. And so I sat in the chair and smiled at them sitting on the rocks, happy to have someone come to see them. I listened to fellow team members give their testimony and share the gospel. I smiled at the children trying to take it all in. At the babies being babies. At the mothers caring for them. I wondered what I could say that hadn't already been said. Mimi and Lena shared the good news and Lena prayed with them - one lady becoming a Christian there under the tree!

They didn't want us to take pictures, but her name was Helen. The others (who already believed) were Pauline, Rose, and Jennifer. I think Jennifer had carried the chairs. Rose was the grandmother of the group. I shared how I teach the Bible to children here at home, and from Deuteronomy about talking of the scriptures when we walk and at home and in the morning and at night.

We walked a short ways towards the next boma where a couple of other families were gathered. They followed us. They carried our chairs. We shared some more, to this group I told my story and shared the love of Christ's death on the cross and the joy of His resurrection. Lindsay shared the story of Gideon. Lena made them smile with her enthusiasm. There were a few men at this place and Peyton was able to talk with them. There was a mother with a baby who had been deformed from lack of water. After we gave out salvation bracelets and Mimi explained what each of the colors meant, it was almost time to go. We circled around this mother and Walt prayed for the baby. They greeted us as we left. Emily, our translator, said that one woman had told her "no one ever came to visit us like this before."

They won't know unless we go.

[Romans 10:14-17]

by Amy Warr at 12:49 am

Kenya; Lake Victoria Report

Family who's parents were saved during a home visit.

Bobby with Pastor Joshua

Tamara with the pastor's daughter

Saturday afternoon Bible story with Caleb and Tamara

These men received Christ after hearing

Team two: Bobby, Page, Caleb and Tamara Johnson flew to Mfangano Island and ministered to people there and two neighboring islands on Lake Victoria.

Sunday School

Who wants to follow Christ?

We visited some schools and fishing beaches with the Gospel and True Love Waits. There were over 100 professions of salvation during the trip. Well worth it! Page met with women of the church and discipled them about Christian living as in Romans 12. Bobby met with the New Life Camp, Kenya Board of Directors and found enthusiasm and goal directed leadership abounds.  We are moving forward with this project.

Great story: We see so many widows with children that it seems commonplace now, but we met a family who's father has HIV. During our visit, he and his wife were saved! (see family photo in their home)

God is gracious to allow us to be a part in His plan.  Thanks for all the prayers!  Keep praying for the people of Kenya.

Kenya Team September 2011

Team Members:

Bay Leaf Baptist Church

Walter Haskins

Dawn Hughes

Mimi Brummitt

Peyton Joyner

Stephani Hutchinson

Page Johnson

Bobby Johnson

Caleb Johnson

Tamara Johnson

Amy Warr

Lena Reyes

George Satterfield

Margaret Kidd

Carol Harrelson

Elizabeth Hauser

Lindsay Core

Marilyn Ayers

Trevor Ayers

Will G

We arrived safely and without a glitch to Masaiiland in Kenya and hit the road the next morning.  We enjoyed four days of teaching men women and children at various locations.  These photos are from Lindsay, Amy, Lena , Mimi, Dawn, Peyton and Howard's first few days.

Peyton teaching the pastors and men.

Lena with Emily.

Howard taught Philippians.

Lucy.

Lindsay

Lindsay loving the children.

Amy and Mimi with some of the children we taught.

Amy introduces the piccolo!

Lena

Mimi with her friends Lucy and Emily.

Lunch was cabbage, potato and goat.

It is no different..they love to have their picture taken!

Liberty Baptist Church site.

Lindsay teaching Hopscotch.

Dawn and Grace.

Canada Missions Team July 2011

             Heroes on the Move  Port Elgin, Ontario  Sports Camp and VBS

      July 2-9 Members 

                                                                                                                 
Leo David
Larick David
Shonica David
Allen Ferguson
Lynne and Bill Hudson
Jack Lundie
Keelan Lundie
Maggie Peters
Edith Peters
Nathan Pike
Rick, Lisa, Ryan and Lauren McAtee
Ed,Sally, Eddie and Gabe Pinon

July 9-16 Members

Cisa and MarkBainbridge
Martin Bell
Steve and Beverly Choquette
Herb and Mary Dascomb
Louis and Lyn Dickerson
Kathy and Bill Eaton
Bob Fussell
Hunter Fussell
Lynne and Bill Hudson
Stephen Maxwell
Matt and Courtney Meers
Mark Mills
Ann Nelson
Gina, Amelia, and Hayden Noble
Mike Pleasant
Earl , Emily, Emma, James and Stacy Ransome
Maggie Peters
Jacob Sampson
John, Ellen, Rebekah, Carrie Ann and Robbie Wible

J.D. Yoakum

Montana Missions Team June 2011

                                                            Montana Mission Trip
June 11-18, 2011


Team Members:

Morgan Betts
Stacy Betts
Angela Britt
Rodney Britt
Lydia Britt
Maddie Britt
Wil Britt
Rhett Brummitt
Shonica David
Sarah Greene
Chad Hood
Will Hood
Jackie Jackson
Lisa Lech
Mary Kathryn Lech
Diego Munoz
Jen Munoz
Makayla Munoz
Sierra Munoz

Stacy and Morgan Betts

Livingston, Montana

Stacy Betts Blog Post 

“How are you?...My name is Coach Stacy and I am glad you are here this week for the Sports Camp.”  This was my first comment to a 12 year old boy on the morning of the first day of the Sports Camp.  What happened next reminded me of the reality of life and why the Lord placed us in Montana. 

“You are a big guy to be 12 years old.  Your Dad must be a big guy too…maybe a football player?”  He then replied with sad eyes looking toward the ground… “I do not really know my Dad.”

I will never forget that moment.   I had noticed this young boy just as he came up to the Camp that morning on his bicycle because he was one of the biggest kids but sat alone and had a distinct looking haircut – a mo hawk.  We then talked a bit longer, and it was later in the week that I learned about his difficult home situation.  Yet, somehow he managed to make sure he and his 9 year old brother came to Camp every day on their bikes.  I also learned throughout the week other stories of some of the other children at the camp - their background, their challenges at home, and their desire to learn from all the Coaches and Teachers… to learn about Jesus.

It was my second time going to Livingston , Montana to help with the Sports Camp.  This year was even more special than last because my 9 year old daughter, Morgan, attended with me.  It was such a blessing to serve together throughout the week. One thing I wanted her to learn, as I am still learning, is the Christian life is more than just going to Church, praying, reading, singing Christian songs, tithing…it is also about serving the Lord.  Serving in different ways, in different places, different people but all for the same reason – to help others come to Christ.

While we shared the Gospel at the Camp, taught Bible stories, prayed, learned new songs for Vacation Bible School…my hope and prayer throughout the week for all of us serving from Bayleaf was to not just talk about God’s love…but to show it in whatever way the Lord would use us.   And the Lord did just that.   The Lord allowed so much to happen that week through Sports and VBS.  There were many questions about God and who He is.  Many, many seeds were planted that week and our reliance is upon the Lord to grow those seeds.  This reminded me of the verses in Corinthians where Paul is talking about planting and watering – especially acknowledging that God is the one that grows the seeds He allows us to plant (1 Cor 3:6,7).

I am also humbled at the opportunity to serve with some many wonderful brothers and sisters in Christ at Bayleaf.  We shared some much together from the moment we arrived in Livingston.  Thank you to all of them for making that week so special.

And just as the week began with me asking the little 12 year old boy a question, it closed with another memorable conversation. We had just shared the Gospel with all the campers and parents that were in attendance.  We requested that those who trusted Jesus that day to tell a Coach about your decision.   After telling a number of kids goodbye and thanking them for a wonderful week at Camp, this little 7 year old girl came over to me.  As I knelt down to speak to her she told me “Coach Stacy, I just asked Jesus into my heart and am a Christian.”  My heart about came out of my chest because of the joy I felt for this little girl and her decision that changed her eternity.  I was then reminded - this is why we serve.

Thank you Bayleaf for serving the world and our community through Missions.

In Christ,

Stacy 

Montana Traffic Jam!

Yellowstone