Administrative Necessities

January 23-February 17


       It has been three weeks since the last update. Once the last of our guests left we tried to catch our breath a little and even get caught up on some office work. December and January were awesome ministry months full of activity and being in the field. The result is a lot of administrative work, things to repair around the house, maintenance on the vehicles, and a little rest also.
     I have spent most of the past three weeks in the office working on updates and preparing for the five classes and three sermons that I have for the World Missions Seminar. Kenya and I are super excited to be partnering with Lynn and Brenda Raburn and helping the new missionaries that are preparing for the field. We are looking forward to teaching, being taught, and the fellowship with all the missionaries.

     We also have had some vehicle issues to work out. Thankfully the Motor Bike was running fine. (Clayton is Crazy!)The A/C went out on the van and we had to take the Land Rover in because it was blowing oil everywhere. The initial diagnosis of the Land Rover was that the brand new Turbo Charger we just put in six months ago was shot. That would have been bad news since it is a $1000 part. Thankfully the shop sent it off to be tested by the supplier and they said that the Turbo is fine so the issue is something else. The shop is going to open the engine and see what is going on. They are the ones that rebuilt the engine so they will stand behind the rebuild. We also had to replace the fuel pump. I feel like Land Rove is a money pit but it will have to due until we get to the states on furlough in August so we can share the need with the churches.

     On a side note to the vehicles, Clayton and I went and tested a buggy out the other day that we are considering purchasing for our trips to town and out to Singuaya. The off road buggy's are 2013 models, street leagal, and will do 100 KPH. We went and test drove one and it was amazing. The suspension is crazy awesome. The British fella selling them took us out for a spin and ran us over some terrible roads at insane speeds and the little buggy road smoothly. We are considering purchasing one to save on the wear and tear of the vehicles for quick trips out. We used to use the Motor bike for trips like this but the roads have gotten so bad not to mention the sand traps that are incredibly dangerous. The buggy's coast about $8000 so they are no toy but we are confident that they will pay for themselves in what they save us in wear and tear on vehicles and our bodies.

     We had several household things that we had to do also after all the rush. Replacing shower heads, cleaning up, and making some improvements. After having so many on the compound at one time along with our families it became apparent that one washer was just not enough so we purchased another washer. This will be extremely helpful when teams are here not to mention our growing team. We also installed a 2000 liter tank to help alleviate our water issues in the future. This gives us four times more water on hand and should allow us to function normally even if the water is out for three days at a time and this year that has been a regular occurrence.We tried to do some work on the roof with our other water tanks also, as you can see it was real safe...
     We got some documentation sent off for John's work permit and for Lindsy's dependent's pass. Pray for these documents to go through without any problems. The government is getting a little more strict with permits and their requirements.

     We took one weekend and went to Mombasa to fellowship with some other missionary families. Josh and Maggie Grist have started a Taco lunch and are inviting missionaries to come in to fellowship. We went in and spent the weekend and had a great time. The kids were able to play with other missionary kids and we all had a good time just relaxing. With our kids we are recognizing more and more that they need fellowship opportunities like this from time to time as they are getting older.
     Please pray for the churches and the pastors. There are several things that need to be addressed after we return from the states. Lynn and Brenda Raburn will be with us the months of April and May. I know Lynn will be a big help with some of the things we need to help the churches and pastors with. Pray also for us as we start making trips to the North surveying and making preparations to launch out next year. Our family would appreciate your prayers while we are in the States for the World Missions Seminar. Pray that we will be a blessing and be used by the Lord to help and encourage the missionaries that will be attending.
     Oh I can't forget to mention our Valentines banquet with the kids!

January 2015 Monthly Report

January 2015

 

Ministry in a Ministry

         The past two months we spent a lot of time on the ministry within the ministry while doing the ministry. What I mean is that we have spent much time in working with and helping all our team members get situated. (PRAISE THE LORD!) The Howells came in from language school the end of November; then the Straders arrived right after.  They all had need of orientation to Malindi and where to buy what, as well as getting phones set up, PO boxes, government documents in process or checking on the progress of paper work. We set up language class schedules and ministry schedules for the past two months all the while continuing to meet with the churches on the weekends.

         We took the month of December as we reported last month and visited all the churches. This helped everyone to meet the churches and get the chance to be with all the people we are currently working with. We have had multiple meetings talking about finances, language, culture, short-term goals, long term goals, vision, team, and being missionaries. It has been awesome but again it has been a ministry in the ministry while doing the ministry.

Wageni Wengi

(Many Visitors)

We finished up the Eyes on Christ clinics the first week of the month with Julie Shoeff and Tami Jo Rayle. As we reported last month it was a complete success. We are so grateful for the Eyes on Christ ministry and would highly recommend them to other missionaries and for support by the churches. eyesonchrist@lbclife.com

            Immediately following the Eyes on Christ departure we moved right into the Fisher Family survey trip. Ben, Anne, Noah, Annabelle, and Rianne are members of Life Point BC Washington, PA. We have been talking with the Fishers since Anne came on the 516 missions trip this past summer. God is moving in their hearts, and they are seeking His calling for them as a family. They came to Kenya as a family this month feeling that God could be calling them to join East Kenya Missions and the work God is doing here. We had a great time with the Fishers during their survey trip and while they were part of the Eyes on Christ Team. 

 

The survey trip went very well, I think that Ben and Anne were able to get answers to a lot of the questions that they had as well as get a picture of the vision for the work here. Clayton, John, and I had several meetings together with Ben and Anne talking over different aspects of the ministry and things they might consider if God is indeed calling them to work with us. Please pray for Ben and Anne, their church, Life Point BC, and pastor Aaron Johnson as they seek God’s will.

         Our last visitor was our long time friend Greg Simo. This was not his first time to Kenya or even the coast. However, this was his first time to come for his ministry Tech Fundi. Greg has sent over some equipment already and brought some equipment this trip to help pastors set up businesses to support their families. The Lord has blessed him with contacts that have donated old laptops and projectors that he has turned into blessings and avenues to preach the gospel.  I appreciate Greg letting the Lord use him and trusting Him to supply. God made Greg’s trip possible in every way and blessed his obedience. I know those Greg worked with and blessed will use the opportunity for God’s glory. 

Language School Tanzania

            We were sorry to see the Straders leave this month, but we are glad to see them taking the next step in their journey. Clayton and I traveled with John, Amber, and Ellanora to Morogoro, Tanzania to help them get set up at their language school. Pray for them as they study over the next four months.

PO Box 299 Monticello, AR 71657

James Taylor PO Box 811 Malindi, Kenya 80200

Phone 011-254-713289014 missionarytaylor@gmail.com

 

Taylor Tribe

 

This month was busy for sure, but God has definitely been working.  We always try hard to let our kids know that they can be part of the ministry that we do anytime or in any way they feel God wants them to.  One thing that has been very helpful for them to engage is Swahili classes.  When our kids were small we didn't speak Swahili to them for fear that they would be confused and never even learn to speak English.  We now know that we were wrong.  Kids have an amazing ability to learn many languages up to the age of 4 or 5 without even being taught in a classroom setting.  Once we moved to the coast we started Swahili classes with the kids.  So now the older ones are fluent and the younger ones are getting there.  Josiah has no problems speaking, reading, and translating Swahili; he loves to talk.  Abigail, however, has never been confident in speaking Swahili.  She is fluent in her understanding of Swahili, but she doesn't like being laughed at when she speaks and makes a mistake.  So she has always held back.  This year, though, she has gained confidence in many areas including Swahili.  She translated some this summer with the 516 groups.  This month she translated for Ms. Tami Jo and really enjoyed it.  I started out translating, then she began to help at the end of the first day.  On the second day she said, "It's okay Mama, I got it from here."  Abigail is growing and changing so much.  I know these next couple of years she is going to blossom into a great young lady, which she already has.  Lydia, Sarah, and Samuel are quickly becoming fluent as well.  Not too long ago a man was teasing Samuel as we were taking a walk and Samuel said something to him in Swahili.  I didn’t know one of the words.  When I asked Samuel about it, he said he called him an avocado.  He had learned the word for avocado, which is not a commonly used Swahili word, they just say avocado.  He is quite a firecracker even in Swahili.

        We also had a first this month.  The Fishers’ youngest child is 6 like Samuel.  She and Samuel were like two peas in a pod while they were here. When we were in the villages, I don’t know who got dirtier. They were for sure perfect test models for laundry detergents claiming to fight tough stains.  One day one of the kids came to tattle on Samuel for kissing Rianne on the cheek.  I quickly went to find out what was going on, fully intending to let Samuel know that he should save all of his kisses for his future wife.  I told him to go sit under a tree, and I would talk to him.  When I began to ask him about it, I had to hold back my smile because upon further interrogation, he said with the sweetest heart, "Well she's just so much fun to play with and I like her except right now she's not being very nice."  It was the cutest thing.  And they were quite a pair, playing happily one minute, and then next you could see Rianne giving him a piece of her mind while Samuel sat there digging in piles of dirt most likely tuning her out.  We had a very nice talk about other ways to let Rianne know how much he likes playing with her. Samuel is very rough and tough, yet somewhere in there is a real sweetheart.

        The biggest, probably happiest news, well for Josiah at least, is that he got his braces off this month.  He is a very happy young man with a beautiful smile.

God has blessed us with some sweet kids.  I pray that He will keep their hearts pure and sensitive towards all that He has for them.

Thanks for reading and praying. 

Tanzania Trip and Tech Fundi Trip

January 15-22

            The Fishers flew out on Sunday then immediately on Monday Clayton, the Straders, and I hopped a bus to go to Tanzania. The trip started off a little crazy since we left too late and missed our bus…thankfully there was another bus company that that had not left yet so we were able to get on it. This turned out to be a blessing because the bus we got on was AIR CONDITIONED! Booyah! We rode in style for sure. It was still a long drive to Chalinze, Tanzania where we got off the bus and instead of getting on a smaller bus we got a taxi that took us straight to the language school it was about 2 bucks more per person compared to the cramped up bus but we splurged and went with it. : )

            We really had a great trip in and we all were thanking the Lord for it. Ellanora did amazing on the drive and John…well John can sleep anywhere. 

            Once we got to the language school in Morogoro Clayton got us all set up in our rooms, took John and Amber  on a tour of the school then we headed to town for dinner. Clayton and Lindsey’s favorite place to eat was closed so Clayton was a bit disappointed, but we found a nice place to eat. While we were driving Clayton was pointing out things all along the way for John and Amber. We had an awesome night of sleep in cool weather. 

            We got up on Tuesday and went to town to help John and Amber get phone lines set up and so Clayton could show them around a bit. Clayton and Lindsey’s experience in Morogoro was a huge help to get John and Amber a good start. Clayton not only was able to show them around on this trip he put together a packet of information with phone numbers and everything. I love being part of a team that takes care of each other! 

            After lunch once we finished up showing John and Amber around and they picked up a few things. Clayton and I decided to climb another one of the mountains while John and Amber went back to the language school. Last time I came to visit Clayton and I climbed the big mountain we decided to climbed the smaller one since we had time before dinner.

            We got some motor bikes to take us up part of the way then we had to hike the rest. 

We did not make it to the very top of the mountain because our time was running not to mention that a storm was rolling in. We could hear thunder in the not so distant distance. 

And we started to see the clouds descending on us from over the mountain. 

We decided to RUN down the mountain, yes Run, not just go quickly. We were booking it then the MONSOON hit. The rain and wind was insane. We were running in what became a river under our feet. We not only had to not slip and fall down but we had to not slip and fall off the edge of the mountain. It was crazy but fun. We ran down to where we started with the motor bikes then all the way to the very bottom. I had to stop at one point to zip off my pant legs to wrap my feet because I got blisters on both my big toes. I did not wear my running shoes so I was dying, but we did it. When we did get to the bottom of the mountain we realized our phones were dead so we could not call our taxi to pick us up. Thankfully a motor bike came by and took us on one bike together until we found another motor bike to get us back to the language school. We were drowned rats by the time we got back to the school but we made it in time for dinner.

            We had dinner at Clayton and Lindsey’s favorite place to eat in Morogoro. The food was really good…well my food and Amber’s was good. John and Clayton got some bad chicken. It smelled rancid! Clayton was complaining about his tasting funny and not right then John noticed his was not good either. When John had me smell his I nearly lost my meal on my plate. It was a little funny because Clayton had talked up the garlic lemon and herb chicken so much and how amazing it was then it ended up being terrible. Ok it was not funny but funny to harass him about it.

            Wednesday Clayton and I were up and on the road by 6:00. We did not leave Chalinze without having some of the best chapatis ever with ginger tea.

We took nearly all forms of transportation taxi, bus, Ferry, tuk tuk, matatu, and private car. Our trip was about 14 hours long but well worth the effort to make sure John, Amber, and Ellanora were settled in and pointed in the right direction. Pray for John, Amber, and Ellanora as they study Swahili. We are sure they will do great!

John's Recent picture of them in Class. AWESOME!

            Thursday we rested up a little then picked up our good friend Greg Simo on Friday. Greg came in to work with some of the pastors on some business opportunities. Greg is a techno guy and the Lord has given him a heart and ability to be blessing to some of the men we are working with. He has been able to send over some equipment in the past that has been used by some of the men to set up businesses to provide for their needs. This time Greg himself was able to come and bring some things to set up two men with potential businesses. 

            It has been awesome to see how the Lord has provided for Greg to do this ministry. He is calling his ministry Tech Fundi. There have been individual’s help him but mainly it has been Greg just trusting the Lord and God providing through unexpected ways.  All the equipment and machines that he has given to the men for these endeavors have been given to him for free or are things that Greg himself gave. Greg has been an amazing friend over the years and has a heart for God’s work and we are so excited to see him use his talents for the Lord. I know Greg’s family wanted to come, but were not able to. Still we appreciate Alison, Jacob, and Zachary sharing him with us for a week.

Although Greg’s visit was short we squeezed in as much as we could. We were able to check in with one of the men that Greg sent machines over for last year and see how he was doing as well as get two others set up with similar businesses. There was much to do besides just setting things up. Greg had to teach how to use the machines and we had to do test runs of everything at the house before we took things to the men. Please pray for the men Greg has worked with that the Lord will bless them in their businesses so they can provide for themselves and have more time to serve the Lord as a result.

 We had a great time of fellowship, hanging out, and ministering together.  We attended church in Singwaya which was Greg's first time to go out Singwaya.

We also had Bible study under a tree in Midiani with the new fellowship that is starting there with Elly. It was my first time to be with the fellowship in Midiani for a regular bible study and it was awesome.  

We managed to squeeze in morning of Snorkeling while Greg was with us as well.