June/July 2008
Dear Prayer Partners,
God amazes me each and every day. It seems that He has
lessons for us to learn whenever we turn a corner. I
always tell our people that we spend so much time
looking for the fantastic lessons and miracles from God
that we miss the small ones that He gives daily.
In 2005, I was standing out in my yard here in Kenya.
After I ate a mango, I said to Lisa, “I’m going to put
this mango seed in the ground and cover it up just to
see if it grows.” After planting that little seed, I
promptly forgot about it. Pastor Allan came to see me
the other day. As we were getting into
my car, he said, “Look you have mangoes.” I couldn’t
believe it. That seed is now a full grown tree that is
bearing fruit. After I related the story to him, he
said, “That is what you do here Pastor. You plant seeds
of God’s love and you never know what God has prepared
for it.”
Wow! What a truth to capture as God teaches me
another lesson about being a missionary. I think God
wanted me to know that He gives the increase. You see I
didn’t water that seed, weed the soil around it, or even
think about it but God cared for it. All I did was plant
it and now it’s bearing fruit on its own and my children
play under it every day. Here I am pictured with
Pastor Allan under our Mango tree that God grew into an
amazing lesson for me. Click photo for a closer
look and use your browser's back button to return.In
my own life, sometimes, I think of all the people who I
have tried to be a light to with the Gospel of Christ.
Some have professed Christ and I see them weekly like
Allan and Dominic. Others got saved and slowly
disappeared from my life like Douglas and David. Many
heard the message and they seemed to not express any
interest at all.
I was reminded that God gives the increase. He is the
one who is drawing men unto Himself. All that He has
asked me to do is to get His Word out there for people
to hear. Without the preaching of the Word, there is no
hope for salvation. Please pray that God gives us open
doors to reach out to new communities in Mombasa.
I am excited to tell you of a new opportunity that is
coming our way. We still need lots of prayers. We have
been approached by a Kenyan Minister of Parliament (like
a Senator), and the Municipal Council of Mombasa about
starting a new project. They said that they want to give
us a piece of government land to start a Christian High
School. Once again this is our amazing God at work
because the M.P. and Municipal Council are of the
Islamic faith. We told them that we will only do the
project if they give the land completely over to us and
give us the freedom to start a church, a feeding program
and a High School that is based on the Christian faith.
Because of the good results we have had at our other
schools they are agreeing to our proposition. The M.P.
has even raised 1 Million Shillings ($16,500) to help
build the first building. Are you amazed at our God?
Please pray that the land transfer will happen without
delay and that God will provide all the funds to do a
proper church and school. Can you imagine a Christian
High School with over 400 students in our Muslim town? I
can and I know that God is more than able to accomplish
it.
We thank the four teams that came to visit us this
summer. You were an inspiration to us and recharged us
to keep fighting for souls in God’s harvest.
Thank you for your prayers and support.
Bobby Lisa Ethan & Conner Bechtel
Missionaries to Kenya, Africa
Praise Reports:
- Salvation of 40 people at our three churches.
- Baptism of 33 new believers.
- New support for Gospel Feeding Center.
- Promise of donated land for new project.
- Great visiting groups.
Prayer Requests:
- Pray for good health.
- Pray for U.S. group coming to visit in October
- Pray for planning stage of new church and
school.
- Pray for more support. Prices have increased by
25%. Gas is now $6.58!
- Pray for the salvation of Mohamed Omar.
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