Greetings!

This letter is to bring to your attention various matters of thanksgiving and prayer.

Oyugis. Some of you are already acquainted with this name. It is a small town about 100km south of Kisumu . We have been talking and prayerfully planning a possible church plant in this town with friends we providentially met three years ago. It was such a joy to have the first Sunday meeting with them this past Sunday. Melly and I took along one young man that we've been praying for. We had such a lovely fellowship. Arriving at 10 am, we found the service had begun. After a short while I was called to preach. I purposed from the onset to show them that the Bible is our rule of faith, especially at this time when our country is struggling to write a new constitution for ruling the land. I preached on the authority and sufficiency of the Bible, urging them that they need to begin with this and continue in the same. 18 people were in attendance with three coming at the end of the service. Sam O. and George O., who are both leading the team, are mature young men and very enthusiastic for reformed ministry. Do pray for them.

Musa (Luo for Moses), is the man who offered his small hotel room for the meeting. However, the landlord, for reasons best known to him, has decided that the rent must go up 70 percent! This small group is worried at this first salvo from the enemy. They have to quickly find another place for future meetings. However, Moses said, ‘Pastor, let us pray and trust God, I am also looking for another place to relocate my hotel business and wherever I go, the church will meet there. Even if I put my hotel under a tree, the church will be free to use it for free!’ Isn’t that lovely to hear! Another man, Tobias, (who lives about 20km from Oyugis) used to be with us in Kisumu and would attend Sunday service. He was in full attendance having camped in Oyugis since Friday. Tobias was a casual worker in Kisumu until he differed with his boss over working on Sunday, which earned him a sack. Now he is jobless at his rural home. Back in Kisumu, Paul and Osborn took care of the service.

Maseno University. The students are currently having their exams. They have been steadily coming to the church service with us in Kisumu as was arranged. The church pays for the fares (30 km away). Half of the group are in their fourth year and are doing their last exams. Our last meeting this semester (this past Friday) was also their last session with us in bible study. On one hand, it was an emotional farewell. But on the other hand, we also extended a warm welcome to the other students that those leaving encouraged to join the group. 20 students were present. This time around they opted to choose two leaders who will be coordinating with the church in Kisumu for bible study. The leaders are one lady (in third year) and one man (first year)! The university will go in recess until September. Do pray that those who are leaving will not forget the pure Gospel they've heard over and over. One, who is an SDA (Fred), said that he will miss our ministry and asked that we pray that he gets a job in Kisumu so that he can come to our church. The majority desired that they be closer to Kisumu to attend the church. Those coming from Nairobi also wanted to know if we have a church there. One lives just in the neighborhood of TBC! So far we have not seen any confession and repentance but I must say that the general attention and reception of the Word was very good. Pray for God’s Word not to return void.

Mirunda.  Fellow elder Paul Odera visited this lake village 15th-19th March. Sadly the Mirunda work is still suffering for lack of reliable man. The two we hoped would help are in and out of the village in search of livelihood fishing in the lake islands. One of them, Elly, lost his father last year and now he is the bread winner for the family. However, Paul managed to call them back for a chat and encouragement. Nothing much is happening. Pray for wisdom on this work.

GBC-Kisumu. We had our AGM 13th- March which had good discussions and suggestions from members. Pray that we will continue as one family and together prosper the Kingdom. We now meet in our new church building. The electric company finally did their part and we now have power in the building. We look forward to the dedication of the building on 1st May. Sukesh from ‘Kawangware’ church will minister. We have invited other churches and friends for this occasion which also will serve the purpose of evangelism. Before then Paul and I will be joining other brethren for a three day conference in Nairobi. Paul will minister on evangelism (his gift) and I have a session on ‘the heart of the Gospel’. I will also hold workshop sessions on ‘signs and wonders’, a subject that might be emotive since we have invited some fellows who will shed blood to uphold their belief in this. Do pray for this conference.

Our family is doing well. Melly is still suffering from arthritis and needs your prayers. My mum who is under my care at her rural home is also struggling with her health. She is permanently on insulin injections. Lois will be taking her grade 11 exams in May. Nila is enjoying her school holiday session. She is in the same school with Lois but in grade 9.

We cherish your partnership with us in the Gospel; may God bless you abundantly.

Sam and Melly