Tanzania with the Straders

April 29-May 6

Right on the heels of starting the church in Midiani, Brother Lynn and I packed up and headed to Tanzania to be with John, Amber, and Ellanora Strader for their final days at language school.  Clayton took us to Mombasa super early in the morning to catch our bus on Wednesday 29. We had a pretty uneventful and long trip to Morogoro, Tanzania. Brother John and Amber had everything ready for us when we arrive at the language school. They even took us out for a nice dinner at a place that they had found. It was so good to meet the friends that John and Amber had made and see the places they had discovered.

 

     On Thursday John and Amber were taking their final exam both the oral and written sections. Brother Lynn and I visited with one of the teachers and even got to sit in on a class to see how a typical class worked. We tried not to disturb John and Amber too much, but we did shoot a picture of them working hard on their final. We all went to lunch together then John and Amber went back for the second half of their final. Brother Lynn and I got a chance to visit a little and relax in the afternoon while John and Amber finished up. We also got to go to Ellanora’s school to say good bye. John and Amber got a treat for all the kids to say thank you for the time that Ellanora got to spend with everyone. It was super cute.

     On Thursday evening there was a graduation celebration for John and Amber where they received their certificates of completion and graduated from the language program. The teachers, head of the school, and other students said great things about John and Amber both. They had a great testimony and friendship with everyone that was evident. They truly had an impact on the teacher that was directly responsible for their classes. He testified how God used Amber to show him that his teaching was more than a job but a ministry to help missionaries preach the gospel. The entire night was a great celebration and Brother Lynn and I were honored to be a part of it all.

     Friday after all the festivities it was time to head back to Kenya. We headed to Chalinze bright and early to catch our bus back to Mombasa. Thankfully all went well on the return to Mombasa.  Kenya, Lindsey, and Brenda were waiting for us when we crossed over the ferry to take us back to Malindi. Everyone on the compound was excited to have John and Amber back.

     We did not have any time to rest once we got to Malindi especially Brother Lynn. Saturday morning we were up and at the church in Malindi ready for Bible Institute classes. Brother Lynn’s time with us is short and in order to stay on schedule we needed every Saturday to get the classes on Hebrews finished before his departure. Brother Lynn did great although when we were finished I think he was exhausted.

     On Sunday we divided and conquered for church services. Clayton and I took the buggy and went to church in Mangangani while everyone else attended services in Malindi. I preached in Mangangani and we stayed after services for a lengthy business meeting. The church is and has been having some problems for over a year and they are starting to come to a head. The church had requested that I come for this meeting to try and help with advice. They scheduled another meeting for two weeks later to continue discussions. Please pray for the church in Mangangani and Pastor Alfonse that the Lord will give wisdom and discernment. Brother Lynn taught SS and brother John preached in Malindi. We all came together in the evening to listen to preaching.

     Clayton and I were able to get some reports and administrative things done, Brother John was able to get his family settled in a little then we were off again. This time heading to Nairobi to begin our survey trip of the North.

New Church Plant Midiani and Buggy

April 19- April 28

     There was a lot of activity over the past few weeks. We really have not had a lot of down time and it does not look like we will get any very soon. We are preparing for the survey trip to the North. Our pastor, Brother Chad, Ryan Copico, Aaron Johnson, and Daren Clements are joining Clayton, John and me to take a trip to the north for our first survey of the area. I will report on that later but for now let me hit the highlights of the past few weeks.

     Clayton, Lynn, and I attended services in Singwaya a few weeks back and had a great time. Brother Lynn preached and it was very good. We stayed after services and fellowshiped with Mwangiri, Furaha, and a couple other men. They took us to a little cafe for some beans and chapati. The church paid for our meal to bless us for coming. I love seeing the church do things like that, it shows their heart and really is a huge blessing to us.
     We had a Zoom meeting on April 22 with all the guys going on the trip North. Clayton and I shared what we found out on our trip to Hola and we discussed a tentative itinerary. It was good to have another meeting before the trip and to pray together. I love Zoom! We were meeting from all over the world. Tanzania, Kenya, Texas, Arkansas, and Pennsylvania. Technology is awesome when it works.

     Clayton and I purchased the Buggy we have been mentioning the past few months. All the paper work was in order and we moved on the buggy. It was a big decision to purchase it, but we believe it will help us as we go in and out of the villages. We especially want to use the buggy to go to Singwaya to try and save some wear and tear on our Land Rovers.

     We had a pretty tough weekend 25-27 on the mission compound with no power all weekend. We woke up Saturday morning with live power wires on the ground! It would not be fixed until Monday and even then it still went out on Clayton, Lindsey, Lynn, and Brenda's side of the compound. Thank the Lord we have a generator so we could have lights, fans and refrigerators. The negative side is that the generator was super loud back by Lynn and Brenda's place. We kept calling the power company but it was a weekend and they were in no hurry for two houses without power. The beginning of the rain season is always the worst for power and I am sure for the power company. Once the power was restored Clayton's breaker box nearly burned up...we had to do some rewiring but we got it fixed up pretty quick.
      Brother Lynn and I tried to have Bible Institute classes on Saturday but we were forced to quit after getting only one session on video. There was a big meeting across the street complete with loud speakers and music that was interfering with our videoing of the classes. We thought about moving to another location but in the end we decided to just push until the next week and try again. I was not too broken hearted since we had plans to go to Midiani in the evening.
   Even our plans to go to Midiani for the evening were thwarted by heavy rains in Mombasa.  We had planned to show the Jesus film but there was no way that was going to happen with the weather so we canceled the cinema and prayed that Sunday would be better for the baptisms and church organization service. Clayton, Lynn, and I went to Midiani for the baptisms and organization of a new church. We had originally planned to all go but with the rains and the our Land Rover still being out of commission we feared taking the van into Midiani.

     We headed out early Sunday morning for Miritini to pick up Pastor Eli, his wife and Pastor Fred. Everything was going well until about 5 minutes from Eli’s house Clayton’s Land Rover refused to go into gear. We were forced to push the Land Rover to the side of the road and begin to diagnose the problem. We first thought that it was the clutch fluid because it was low and the clutch was moving so freely. We finally got some clutch fluid and filled up the reservoir but still no shifting. I was pushing on the clutch and Clayton and Lynn saw the real problem… The entire Transmission was coming unbolted from the Engine! That is a big problem!  

     Clayton got some tools out and managed to get the remaining bolt (singular BOLT) tightened enough so we could drive to a gas station and have some pavement to work on rather than sitting in the mud pit we pulled off in. We got to a gas station a few minutes away and decided that we might could still get the Landy running if we could get some bolts to reattach the Transmission to the engine. We found some mechanics and I jumped on a matatu with one of them and we went up the road to a dude on the side  of the road that had nuts and bolts to try and find some replacement bolts. In the meanwhile I had called Eli and told him to come to where we were broke down by motorcycle and we would decide what to do once he arrived. This was way too important of a day to allow a break down to hinder the Lord’s work so we began to come up with a plan B and C.

     When the mechanic and I got to the nuts and bolts guy I showed him a sample bolt and he brought out two 50KG sacks filled with nuts and bolts and we both began the search. We managed to find seven bolts and I headed back to Clayton and Lynn with the Land Rover. By the time I got back Eli, his wife, and Fred were there waiting. I gave Clayton the bolts and he proceeded to tighten everything down and reattach the transmission. I talked with Eli and Fred about the service and we continued to make plans while Clayton worked under the vehicle. After a short delay we were up and going again and headed interior to Midiani with all systems go.

     Tough start to the morning but it was well worth it after the day we had with the folks in Midiani. When we arrived we greeted everyone and immediately headed down to where the water was for baptisms. It was a good mile or two walk to the water and everyone slowly made the trip. Clayton drove the Land Rover part way to get Pastor Eli a little closer to help with the walk since it was so muddy and difficult with Eli’s crutches.  The finial leg of the trip to the water we had to go down a steep hill. Clayton and I caught up to Eli and he was struggling down the steep embankment so we carried him the rest of the way down the hill.

     Once we all got to the waters edge we all prepared to get into the water for the baptisms. Eli had previously asked me to baptize for him because he said he would not be able to get into the water and stand because of his disability. I told him I thought he should do the baptisms since he had been the missionary and had done all the work with the group and that Clayton and I would help be his legs if he would allow us. He agreed to let Clayton and I help him and he was super excited to do the baptisms. I think for his entire ministry his disability had hindered him from baptizing folks so it was a big day for him on multiple levels. Clayton and I carried Eli out into the water and held him up while he baptized 24 people. This single event is and will be on one of the highlights of my entire ministry! Fred led the folks on the shore with scripture readings, singing and calling out names for those to enter the water.

 

 

     After the baptisms we had an organization service for the church. The group of believers covenanted together, named their church, called Eli as their missionary pastor, and then selected a treasurer and secretary. It was a beautiful thing to watch this young fellowship bonding together. After the service at the waters edge we went back to where the fellowship has been meeting and had the first worship service for Grace LBC Midiani. After a time of worship brother Lynn preached the first sermon in the church and challenged the new church to move forward with Jesus. It was a great day that ended with an awesome fellowship lunch. Clayton, Lynn, and I left Miritini filled to the brim with joy for Eli and the new church.

April 2015 Monthly Report

 

April 2015

 

Grace Landmark Baptist

Church, Midiani

     Brother Lynn, Clayton and I had the privilege of being a part of the organization of Grace LBC in Midiani. Pastor Elley has been traveling to this area for the past year working with this group and serving as a missionary from his church in Miritini. It has been a blessing to see how God has used Elley in establishing this work and challenging all the churches we work with to do the same.   If anyone has an excuse not to walk two hours up and down valleys to preach the Gospel it would be Elley, who was disabled by Polio as a child. However, Elley does not allow his disability to hinder him or the Gospel!

     Satan tried to hinder us from being a part of this day with major car trouble, but God would not allow it and we are still praising Him for it. This day was and will always be one of the highlights of my entire ministry! Elley had approached me about baptizing for him to start the church since he could not get into the water, but I refused and told him if he would allow us, Clayton and I would be his legs so he could baptize. There was no way that I wanted to steal the blessing of baptizing the disciples that Elley had sacrificed so much for. What an incredible joy to be with Elley in the water as he baptized for the first time.  Then to stand on the water’s edge as the newly baptized believers covenanted together to organize a church was just AMAZING! 

 

Preachers’ Fellowship Meeting

     We held a fellowship meeting for all the preachers and pastors of the churches we are working with this month. It was a well-attended, great meeting. We had ten different preachers preach during the meeting. We also heard from each of the churches and Bible studies about their current needs and future plans. It was so good for everyone to be together to encourage and challenge one another.  

 

LBBI Hebrews Classes

     Brother Lynn Raburn started teaching Bible Institute classes going through the book of Hebrews this month. We are videoing all these classes so they will be in digital form to be used for other classes in the future. We are grateful for Brother Lynn working so hard on these studies and preparing everything in Swahili. 

      This is the second time Brother Lynn has come specifically to put classes on video for the work here. We still use classes he videoed 20 years ago when he was a missionary here in Kenya; he was a little younger in those videos. These video teachings are such a blessing for the work we are doing to train pastors. It gives our students a variety of teachers with deep teachings. Please pray for Brother Lynn as he continues to work through Hebrews. 

 

North Pre-trip

    Clayton and I took a drive North this month all the way to Hola. It was a three-hour trip on some pretty rough roads. We did not have any meetings; we simply made the drive to check on accessibility and distance as a pre-trip for our big survey in May. We picked up two Border Patrol Soldiers near Hola and carried them back to Malindi with us. It was a great chance to pick their brains, since they both have been stationed in the area. Please pray for wisdom, discernment, and safety as we continue to do the survey work for the future. Pray for the Munyoyaya, Orma, Wardei, and Pokomo.

We purchased a Buggy this month for trips to the bush and to save our Land Rovers a little wear and tear.

  Brother Lynn and I traveled to Tanzania to attend John and Amber’s graduation from Language school. Then we all returned back to Kenya together. We are so glad to have the Straders back in Kenya!

Praise God for a busy and amazing month of ministry. If you would like more details on the events mentioned in this report you can read our blog at http://missionarytaylor.blogspot.com/

 

PO Box 299 Monticello, AR 71657

James Taylor PO Box 811 Malindi, Kenya 80200 

Phone 011-254-713289014 missionarytaylor@gmail.com  

Taylor Tribe

 

 

We got back from the states with only two days to finish preparing for the Raburns’ arrival.  We had gotten most of the guesthouse ready before we left, but it needed to be cleaned and maintenance.  It wasn’t perfect, but as we like to say around here, TIA, This Is Africa. And we figured since Lynn and Brenda are pros at being missionaries they would adjust with no problems.  Once they got here they got settled in and everyone has just been plugging along each with our own duties and activities. 

For our family it has been test prep the whole month.  Our kids have never done standardized testing.  Since we are going to be putting the kids in school next year during our furlough, we thought it would be good to make sure they are where they should be.  Having Ashley here has been awesome.  She has done such a great job teaching them this year as well as getting them ready for what public school life will be like.  We are all a bit nervous about school next year.  Each of our kids has different personalities so with that comes a whole different perspective on how excited each kid is.  The two younger ones don’t seem to have much fear, only excitement.  Lydia is the most shy of our kiddos, and she is feeling a bit nervous about making new friends.  Abigail knows she has at least one friend in Monticello in her grade so she is only slightly nervous.  Josiah is more excited than nervous as he has been praying to go to “real” school for over a year now.  And the Lord answered his prayer specifically.  Public schooling has never been an option for us since we do so much traveling.  Josiah has asked us several different times about going, and we told him we had never felt it was right for our family with our busy travels.  The older he has gotten the more this desire has grown in him.  So we told him that he should pray about it and ask the Lord to show us all very clearly if this is something we should do.  At the same time I have really been praying for our kids that God would become very real to them.  I want our faith to be “their” faith, very personal and not just something our family has as a whole.  So along with all of those prayers the Lord began changing our plans and perspectives very slowly.  We have started realizing the transition our kids are in with Josiah moving back to America for college in just 4 short years.  That is only one more term on the field with him.  Also James has been trying to work on his Masters degree for a couple years and after talking with the Missionary Baptist Seminary, realized that the best thing was to attend school for a full year and he would complete all that he needed to finish his degree.  The Lord really showed us that if we were going to stay put for a year then it was very reasonable to put the kids in school for a year.  When I talked to the kids about it, I asked Josiah if he had been praying about it; and he answered that he had prayed every day for a year.  It brought tears to my eyes as He and I both realized that God had not only answered Josiah’s prayers to go to “real” school, but he had answered my prayer to be very “real” and personal to the kids.  I’m thankful for the work God is doing in our family.  We are in a new phase of life with our kids growing and maturing.  Some days I get nervous and scared and wonder if we are doing everything right.  But God always reassures me that they are His kids, and I have the privilege of shepherding their hearts.  And they do have sweet, tender hearts.  They’re not perfect, in fact, they are very normal kids, but their hearts are still tender towards the Lord.  If they can have pure hearts, then they will have pure actions.  Please pray for us as we prepare our kiddos for this new adventure.

                  We had a very nice Easter weekend.  We started celebrating on Friday with a fun night of coloring eggs and watching a movie.  Sunday after church we hunted Easter Eggs and watched the Passion of the Christ.  The movie is so powerful each time I watch it I just want to cry out,  “STOP!”  This time, however, I ended up getting tickled at Samuel, who kept asking every time Jesus fell down, “Is he dead?” Finally I shouted, “Samuel, it’s the story of Jesus! You know this!”  I think he just got so caught up in it that he forgot. 

                  We found out this month that my sister’s Non Hodgkin’s Lymphoma is back for the third time.  She will go through 6 more weeks of chemo and radiation.  Please keep her in your prayers. 

Thanks for reading and praying.