Suna Church of God, Kenya
March 2008 Update
International news is full of the rioting and general upheaval in western Kenya, where Suna is located. The congregation is mostly made up of Luos, so it is virtually impossible for them to get any financial help from the Kikuyu government. The congregation has suffered much loss of basic necessities and damage to their compound. Amazingly, they have been helped significantly by a Moslem Arab because of our books in Arabic about the Bible and the last days and the return of Messiah.
We appeal to readers to help. Please click on the Donate page and give what you can. The PayPal site provides you the opportunity to include a note to us indicating your desire that your funds support the congregation in Kenya. Here is some relevant text from a couple of emails I received from Nicholas:
3/2/2008
Shalom! I hope that God is with you towards his work. We are now happy here in Kenya, because at last there
was solution between the two rivals. They agreed to a power sharing deal in government.
The work is moving on, I have tried to print and duplicate some copies of our materials, and I wanted to let you know that I have a big job here to reach people of God with the truth. Please i am praying so that if possible God may bless you and us so that we may get enough money to buy some iron sheets, for the house. At least if we could get even 45,000 shillings would help us to clear necessary office supplies and to buy some iron sheets.
1/28/2008
No, at this moment there is no any Church in Nyanza region receiving any Aid from UN Relief. I want to turn to the direct point WHY! Nyanza is the stronghold of government opposition that is why the government has ignored us.
Those who may get relief from the government are only Kikuyu living in Nyanza, that is why after the election crisis started because we were demanding for change. Even roads, schools, and Hospitals in Nyanza and other part of provinces in Kenya are bad compared to central province where president, and his kitchen cabinet Ministers are coming from.
If you apply for anything from the government if you are not a Kikuyu, you may end up that you fell to get it, but the Kikuyus they are getting. So Mr. Patton, that is the main problem that we have with this government. Presidents are considering only their people, as you know that their no Luo person who has been president since independence.
1/25/2008
Shalom! I have attached for you a picture which we took in the hall recently. We were feeding the orphans and members with funds which you sent us recently.
I am still working out, if I could get some funds to start again my business. My barbershop was looted, and I don't have anything at this moment. Also, two of the children that I am taking care of were admitted yesterday into the hospital. The doctor told me that they have strong malaria.
Keep us in your prayers,
Nicholas
1/8/2008
I was left with only 3,000 shillings after purchasing water tank, but I have used that money towards food. I will let you know the situation and all reports.
Last night, people claimed to be Kikuyus set fire in some shops belong to Luos, and some of our members has lost their shops, including my wife and other seven people.
Keep praying for us,
Nicholas
1/7/2008
Thank God because I am still alive. Today I went to town and found some cyber cafe being opened. Please I will let you know more later after everything cool down. Please we are dying there is no food; ours which was in the garden were being stolen during this tribal war between Kikuyu and Luos.
I have lost even my barber shop. It was he one of the things which was burnt because we did not attend the rioting and those who were looting things in the town so they were not happy with us.
Please try to assist us to get some sacks of maize to help me with the Church and the orphaned Children here. I will give you more reports later, keep praying for us. Let me hear from you.
Shalom.
Nicholas
March 2007
With some help from donations, we have made substantial progress in equipping this small church with a large heart to serve God. They have already reached out to Arabic speaking residents in their area with our materials in Arabic, and cooperation with a sister church in Tanzania has begun.
Financially, we need the help of those led to do so. The church widows are planning to acquire sewing machines to make clothes to sell, and the compound where they live needs a well. The details are found below.
Background
I am very happy to let you know more about me and our group. I am Deacon here in the church. To earn our daily bread, I sell used clothes and my wife is a seamstress to repair and make clothing. Though funds we earn, we are able to support ourselves and assist the work of our congregation.
This group was formed by believers in 2003, and we have been registered with the government under the rule of the societies, 1968-rule number 4, registration number 25558. We don’t have many financial supporters, but sometimes we organize fundraising events to meet specific goals and invite some other people. That is how we have raised some money for the past 3 years.
We have been blessed to buy land and built a meeting hall and some other few things in the compound. Our mission is to preach the gospel of the coming kingdom to other people, and to assist orphans and widows. We are planning to build an orphanage home in our compound in future, so that we can assist the children who their parents died because of AIDS. We want to teach them using publications, and any other things that can bring them to know Christ.
I will translate these books and articles into two languages, Kiswahili and Luo. Your publications are very, very useful. I have been reading some through the Internet, and I hope that many people will be blessed with them because they will be read in local languages to be understood by everyone. We need basic equipment like a photocopy machine, office table and chairs, for example. Right now we are building a water tank to store water drained from our roof so that we do not need to buy it so often. I think that God will opened for you and us some ways so that we may reach many souls with this wonderful truth before the second coming of Christ to reign here on earth as King of Kings it will be wonderful
We hope to serve together so that we can deliver some who are still in darkness.
Nicholas Ochieng Odero, Deacon
Church of God
Suna, Kenya
[Pictures from December 2006 below.]
