The Pruitt's - Sharing Ministry and Life in Kenya

GOOD NEWS!

2008-12-12T16:01:00.004+03:00

"I BRING YOU GOOD NEWS OF GREAT JOY THAT WILL BE FOR ALL THE PEOPLE" Luke 2:10

Today was an amazing day! Over 100 people were baptised in a rented swimming pool. Many had never been in a pool - and had to overcome great fear of even getting into all that WATER!

In the midst of these many wonderful people being immersed - were two who were very special to Lee. Two men that Lee studies with at least twice a week - were involved. Patrick's son - Kennedy was baptised and Patrick asked Lee to represent him. James Blanks - made a decison last week to be baptised after studying what God has to say about baptism.

2008-12-12T16:01:00.000+03:00

Kennedy - Patrick's son - now a brother! Please pray for young Kennedy - growing up in Mathare Valley is not an easy task. This young boy has loving parents who are striving to live out their faith.

2008-12-12T15:56:00.000+03:00

Blanks - a young man we have mentioned before, works as a guard at the Hope Center. He is passionate about studying God's word and took his study on Baptism to heart - he could hardly wait for this day to come - yet came with some trembling about making this public confession. From a life of crime and violence - to forgiveness and freedom!
Thank you for your prayers for Blanks - please continue as he grows into the man God desires him to be.
Rejoice!

2008-12-12T15:46:00.000+03:00

James Blanks - age 25 - BORN AGAIN

2008-12-12T15:31:00.000+03:00

"I bring you Good News of Great JOY that will be for all the people." Luke 2:10

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

2008-12-06T21:44:00.000+03:00

Merry Christmas - from the whole Pruitt Crew!
Christmas in Kenya is during our Summer - so we enjoy this season with sunshine and blue sky! But where ever we are - we Celebrate the Birth of our Saviour!

Bibles

2008-12-06T21:40:00.000+03:00

We look forward to soon being able to provide Bibles to those who attend the New Believers Classes and Church Services.
Thank you to those who made this possible.

3 of the 11 cooks at Pangani Center

2008-12-06T21:29:00.000+03:00

Update December 6, 2008

2008-12-06T20:45:00.002+03:00

Dear Friends,

So much has happened this past month. Thanksgiving came with a special offering from Singing Hills Christian Church for bibles for Mathare. Lee made a video and posted it on You Tube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6L5mLf3uU0. Or go to YouTube and search "Bibles For Mathare". The video will introduce you to a couple of the leaders that Lee is working with and also give you a glimpse into Mathare Valley. Others have donated for bibles and we are excited to soon be able to provide the much needed bibles for individuals who are wanting to study God's word and grow in their understanding and faith. Thank you so much!

Let Me Tell You a Story....
Lee has been working with a friend to help communicate the art of teaching the bible through the use of Story Telling. Storying is such a culturally appropriate way to communicate the gospel in Kenya. Oral telling of the scriptures is not only appropriate - it also can be used in situations where bibles are scarce. Sharing the real and powerful gospel message through storying - also relieves leaders from feeling that they are not trained to share the scriptures - the scriptures speak clearly of God's power, His Mercy and His message of redemption. Simple questions about the story can open the door to discussion and greater understanding.

Outreach:
Lee studies with two men at the Hope Center who are not "Leaders". They are in fact guards for the compound. One is a new believer who came to Christ when a young intern befriended him. These men love to study the word of God. They meet together at least twice a week and usually for several hours. They would like to meet daily and often call Lee if he does not go to the center each day. Lee recently asked them who they wanted to reach out to - the same way that he is teaching them - who will they teach? They decided it was to be the cooks at the Pangani Center. The 11 cooks work long days 6 days a week preparing the food for over 1000 people daily. These men have approached the cooks and have laid the foundation for beginning the study. Once the cooks realized that the men did not want to preach at them - but to teach them and help them - they were willing. This study is to begin this week on Wednesday. Please pray that the Lord uses these men as they make their first attempt to reach out and share the Word of God.

Baptisms:
Lee just finished working with lessons on Obedience followed by Baptism. These lessons have been used throughout the studies and the timing is perfect! A swimming pool was rented for December 12th to hold a baptism service! Many are ready and anxious to be baptized! Baptisms are more then a spiritual event in Kenya. A baptism is registered by the church and government. Our focus is on the spiritual decision and heart transformation that goes with this decision. We look forward to the 12th. Please pray that the Lord is Glorified this day!

Life....
The current economic climate in America is impacting the mission community as churches and individuals struggle to maintain their budgets. We continue to find ourselves underfunded - yet confident that the Lord holds us and our needs in His capable hands. If you have been interested in supporting this ministry and the Lord is enabling you to do that - we would appreciate it. We continue to covet your prayers regarding this need.

Michael, Paul and Grace continue to thrive. The boys just performed in their first band concert. Michael is learning the Trumpet and Paul is on "percussion". I think every boy wants to play the drums at some point! Everyone is well and looking forward to the Christmas break.

Our "Bigs" were in Southern Oregon with our families for Thanksgiving and enjoyed this special time with family. Adam is entering the Air Force in mid-February and will also be getting married in the Spring. Danielle is reaching the final term of her Master's program at Fuller and will be done in March. This event will soon be followed by the birth of our first grandchild in early May. Thank you for continuing to hold our children in prayer - being long distance parents can be a challenge but our family remains committed to the call that brought us to Kenya 11 years ago.

May the Lord Bless You and Keep You and May you find great JOY in our Saviour this Holiday Season

I bring you good news of Great Joy that will be for ALL the people. Luke 2:10b

The Pruitts

Bibles

2008-11-01T07:25:00.000+03:00

Once the lessons are prepared - they are translated into Swahili. Copies are made and each member of the class can have a copy of whichever version they are most comfortable with (English or Swahili). They love having a "handout" as it gives each person an opportunity to continue to study the material as well as share it at home with friends and family members.

Most people do not own a bible. The cost of a paperback bible is approximately $8.00. When a months rent is $12.00, it is obviously a formidable amount for most people.

For this meeting - Lee borrowed 6 bibles for the class to use. They intently looked up the scriptures themselves!

2008-11-01T07:10:00.000+03:00

Lee and Fanuel - teaching and translating as the sun begins to set.

One Week Later...

2008-11-01T07:07:00.001+03:00

Madoya one week later. This is the toilet block/meeting room for the Madoya-Huruma New Believers Class. This building was a Community Health Evangelism project (CHE). Meaning the community themselves determined their need for this and developed the idea and some of the funds from within the community itself. This gives the community ownership of the facility and dignity in the process. It gives the community a sense of value and accomplishment - foundational stones to build hope upon.

It seems to me to be a perfect example of CHE - not only does it better the life of the community members through improved hygiene and sanitation - it is also the home of the New Believers Class where about 20 adults and 20 children gathered this week to study, sing and pray as they discover the Hope of forgivness and God's Love for the them.

It Was a Dark and..........

2008-10-25T08:58:00.003+03:00

I am tempted to begin this story ….it was a dark and stormy night. That in fact is true. A few nights ago I ventured into Madoya Slum village to attend (and teach -because a visitor never gets to just attend – you become the “guest teacher”), a New Believer’s class. Madoya is called “a slum within the slums”. Some 80,000 – 100,000 people live in Madoya.

Fanuel leads this class which gathers in a meeting room built above the public toilet block. Faunuel is one of the men who I have an opportunity to disciple and befriend here. I usually meet with Faunel on Monday and we go through the lesson together and then he takes it to his group in Madoya later in the week.” Faunel is a very sincere and Godly man.

I went with few reservations, Anne Marie had many – the main concern being that it would be dark when it was time to come home. It is not always a good idea to be in the slums or rather trying to get out …at night. The study was “supposed” to start at 5:00 and go to 6:00. At 6:00 is when the attendees would want to be back to their small businesses – as that is when business picks up. People coming home will stop to buy their food items or necessities at the end of their day.

I drove my Pajero to the Madoya/Huruma school building. From there we would walk to the meeting hall. Once we arrived at the school – we of course had to have tea with our friend Jennifer the head teacher of Madoya School. I met up with Boaz, another one of the men I study with and who was attending the meeting also. The rain stopped as we sipped our tea and we took advantage of the break to start off. Boaz walked with 4 white plastic chairs on his head. (Seats were needed for our meeting.) Before I could leave the school, one of the helpers from the school insisted that I take her umbrella. I declined – but she would not accept my answer. So, I set off with a bright pink umbrella! About 5 minutes into our walk – the rain started down in a deluge. We quickly found a small overhang of tin roofing to stand under and wait out the rain. We, along with literally hundreds of people scrambled for any spot out of the direct rain – but the water coming down splashed mud all over us as we waited. After a good long rain – a small break occurred and we started off again. Within a few yards from our first protected spot – we were hit again and ducked into a nearby Duka with a dozen others crowded into an 8 X 10 shop. While we waited for the rain to pass I watched the activity outside the shop. A lady who makes her living roasting ears of corn to sell was trying to gather her corn and hold an umbrella over her enterprise. Another man was selling charcoal to passers- by to do their nightly cooking on a small jiko or barbeque. He was trying to hold a stick with plastic over his charcoal as wet charcoal is hard to sell. Another long wait for the rains to take a break, and we could begin again.

At this point it is hard to express what the slum area looks like. In dry weather it is dirt and dirty with garbage and sewer ditches running throughout. In rain – it becomes moving mud and sewage. The hard packed ground becomes standing water. Unfortunately the meeting room is at the bottom of a slope – and much of the run off was headed downhill. The sewer ditches were running over and the sights and smells though familiar, are shocking to me. Yet – this is normal life during the rainy season.

As we finally approached the meeting hall building (remember the downstairs is a toilet block) the building resembled an island sitting in the midst of a lagoon; a sludge and sewage lagoon! After carefully maneuvering the high side of a ditch, we manage to make it to the steps of the building.

Despite the rain and terrible conditions to be traversed to attend this meeting, 14 new believers made it! We spent some time singing and had about 45 minutes to study before it became too dark to see enough to even read my bible or my notes. We fought the waning light during the last 10 minutes – until we literally had to give up. The group was upbeat and I was so encouraged by the faithfulness of these new believers. While there was not enough light to read by, the group stayed on to visit and shake hands for some fellowship before heading back out into the night.

As we left the building and climbed back up the hill – the air was clear and cool. People were everywhere coming out from undercover to buy their food for their evening meals, greet their neighbors and complete the details of the day – come rain or shine.

When we visit someone in the rural areas of Kenya - and if it rains, they thank us for bringing the blessing of rain to them. I am not sure it looks or feels like a blessing in the slums of Nairobi when the rains are falling down. These new believers are wanting to build their lives upon the rock - so that when the rains come down, the streams rise, the winds blow and beat against the house - it will not fall because it has a foundation ON THE ROCK! Matt. 7:24-27

OASIS -HOPE IN A DRY PLACE

2008-10-19T17:49:00.000+03:00

These photos make me think about an oasis. Both photos seem to symbolize hope. The tall palm tree is the only living, green thing in this entire area of Mathare Valley. It rises above the cement, dirt and rubbish - proof that life goes on and hope is still present. This is a view out the window from the Pangani Hope Center. Like this tree - the Hope Centers symbolize resilent life and a present hope in the midst of bleak surroundings

Lee meets with these two men. One is a new believer with a very dark past, and the other a long time believer - still worried about his past. Both seem to have the same questions: "Is faith real?" "Can my sins really" be forgiven?", "Is there really hope?".

THERE IS HOPE!

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Rom. 15:13

View from Above - Mathare Vally - Kosovo

2008-10-11T10:43:00.000+03:00

These pictures show the view from the top (unfinished floor) of the Kosovo Center
Life in the Slums is the color of rusted tin.

Mathare Valley - Kosovo

2008-10-11T10:33:00.000+03:00

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The Mathare Valley is home to over 800,000 people. This huge slum is divided into smaller "slum villages" that help form community, boundaries and identification. There are 10 villages with approximately 80,000 people in each. These pictures are from the area called Kosovo. The MOHI center in Kosovo is a small dirt and cement block compound that houses a school for over 350 children ages 3-10. These children range from nursery class through 1st grade. The cooks (seen here in the "Kitchen") cook meals each day for the children and staff. The children eat a lot of cabbage, carrots and ugali. For many of the children what they eat at the center is the only food they will have that day.

This week a visiting team from the states did a Vacation Bible School with the children in the Kosovo school as well as doing home visits into the community.

The Kosovo Hope Center is also a church. The "Hall" or church building is a tin shed with a cement floor and during the week it is used as classrooms for the "Nursery Class". Lee works with a couple of young men who help pastor this church. They meet together weekly for discipling and also to develop materials for the New Believers. This past week while a visiting group was in the community sharing Christ - 2 people accepted the Lord! They were told to come to the church the very next day to join in the New Believers Class and they did!

Last week one of the pastors came back to Lee to share that he had taught the New Believers in the village of Madoya on "Assurance of Salvation" and there were 7 new believers in class. He was so excited!

Thank you for your partnership in ministry. Please continue to pray with us as we serve here. Please pray for spiritual strength, wisdom and protection for Lee. "Discipling takes more faith then any other task of the church. Since it is top priority for God, it is top priority for Satan. No work of God's servant draws more resistance than disciple making." (The Disciple Making Pastor by Bill Hull pg. 39)

Grace and Co.

2008-10-10T15:17:00.000+03:00

These are two of Grace's friends. They slept over last night while the boys spent the night with one of their friends. Wow, are girls different than boys! These sweet things disappeared for hours and reappeared smelling of way too much perfume and singing High School Musical tunes. They watched Camp Rock - maybe 3 times AND went to bed on time. They ate cinnamon rolls and smoothies for breakfast instead of a double batch of pancakes and 2 liters of milk. Nothing blew up, was broken or destroyed in the last 24 hours. Nothing was caught on fire and I did not find a miscellaneous assortment of sticks in the house. The front door remained shut and I could hear myself think. I heard "thank you for having me over Mrs. Pruitt." at least 4 times during their first 30 minutes in the house and they took everything with them when they left. While they were here - one of the boy's friends arrived looking for his scooter that he left behind about a month ago. He also remembered to ask for his toothbrush that he left here last weekend!

Oh yes, boys and girls are different! It is almost too quiet around here, almost!

THE RED TEAM!

2008-10-10T15:00:00.000+03:00

O.K. - it isn't the "Ted Team" but the "Red Team!". They finished the season with 4 wins and 3 losses and lots of fun! Lee doesn't play soccer - but parent volunteers were needed and he wanted to invest a couple of hours in the kids and school. It was fun!

I am still trying to get the whole "Blog" thing figured out. Patick Gerber graciously set this up for me and switched it over to this blogger account. I quickly messed it up and have been trying to be brave enough to get back on here and figure it out for about a month now. Today was the day to try again. Lee and I both spent a couple of hours trying to get it straightened out. Now, at least I can post and I will call in the assistance of trained professionals another day!

THE TED TEAM!

2008-10-10T14:51:00.000+03:00

Michael's Birthday

2008-08-28T19:54:00.000+03:00

Last night -this boy went to bed and he was 10. This morning he woke up a full 11 years old. He has been counting down the days. He is handsome, smart, funny and sensitive. He gets moody and grumpy when he is tired - only he never really knows when he is tired. He loves to read and we have often caught him reading late into the night under the blankets with his flashlight. We cured that by refusing to give him new batteries! He is very strong and athletic. He loves to WIN! He loves being a follower of Jesus and works to figure out how to do that every day. He is on the swim team and is looking forward to soccer practice starting. He is almost as tall as I am and tips the scales are well over 100 pounds these days.

Michael wanted Chocolate Chip Pancakes with whip cream for breakfast. He wants to have Curry Chicken for dinner and a Triple Chocolate Fudge Cake - I think I had better get cooking!

I love this kid so much my heart feels full to overflowing!

Michael, Paul and Grace

2008-08-21T19:29:00.003+03:00

It seems like just yesterday that I used to plunk these three into a huge, white bathtub and let them splash and play before we took them out of the tub and rubbed them dry. Then we rubbed vasoline on them from head to toe before zipping them up snug in their sleepers. It is a sweet memory.

Today, my youngest son Paul made me very proud. After school all three tried out for the Rosslyn Swim Team. Two of them made it. At the end of the try out each child ran to the coach and was told "yes" or "no". Paul came running back with a grin on his face and I had relief in my heart. He had tried hard and was pretty good for a child with no training - after all isn't that what they will get in Elementary School Swim? He congratulated others and then came to us and told us "I didn't make it". His lip quivered and he blinked a lot. When friends called out "Hey Paul, did you make it?" He called back with a strong voice "No". "Oh, sorry man, sorry you didn't make it" was the genuine reply from his good friends. In fact all his friends made it along with his sister and brother. That hurts.

Today my son took a great disappointment with grace and with the heart of a man. We look forward to seeing what the Lord has instore for him that is uniquely Paul.

Rights?

2008-08-21T19:28:00.000+03:00

We Americans are very careful about our rights. We live in a nation founded on the need for personal freedom and rights. One of the things I like about living in Kenya is the fact that I don’t need to protect these rights quite as much as I used to. For instance, when the neighbors dogs bark all through the night and repeatedly wake me up – I don’t really worry about it. It doesn’t upset me and I have no intention of complaining. It just IS. When other neighbors are playing music so loud that it feels like it is in MY house or drums are banging repetitively for hours in some sort of ceremony – I don’t have to worry that my rights are being infringed upon.

When a matatu driver cuts me off, or drives down the wrong side of the road - it may irritate me –but I certainly am not thinking I should “do something” about it.

This idea even applies to shopping – buyer beware – certainly applies here. In fact, there are even outlets available for me to open the package and test the light bulbs I want to buy – before I take them to the check out – because if they don’t work – that is MY problem, not the stores. Before I buy a fan or a toaster – the clerk and I plug it in and be sure it is working properly. After I take it home – I am on my own!

My neighbor may kill a goat in the yard of our apartment building and I don’t need to worry about it. In fact my neighbors once had a funeral with 50 men in our front yard, bowing towards Mecca, on their knees praying – while they carried the coffin out of the building – we just happened to be going IN the building with interns at the same time. It wasn’t a problem, or an offence – it just was.

I have realized that it is very liberating to not have to worry about protecting my rights all the time. I don’t have to protest the things that upset me or “infringe” upon my rights – because quite frankly – no body cares!

There is a negative side to this that I don’t want to skim over – while I don’t feel that sense of “indignation” rising up in me and the need to “take a stand” over many trivial rights. I do still have my basic human rights met. I have freedom to choose where my children go to school and what I will do and say and where I will go. But, for many Kenyans these important choices are not theirs to make. If the local school is full and the teacher doesn’t show up – there is nothing to be done. If an “officer of the law” takes their money or rounds them up in a raid – simply so that bail must be posted – there is little anyone can say or do except pay and pray for safety. If their house is torched by an outbreak of violence – there is no one who has to “pay” for damages.

Our rights are a funny thing. While we may have gone to extremes in America with ludicrous law suits and defensive posturing by every manufacturer around – I don’t ever want to take for granted the freedoms that I have as an American. I am so thankful to carry a passport from the land “of the free and the home of the brave”.

Friends

2008-07-31T19:27:00.000+03:00

I watched the boys meet a new friend yesterday. His name is Josh. Josh returned to Kenya last year. He came while we were away - so the boys have never met. At least not that they can remember.

Michael, Paul, Alex and Josh are 4 handsome 10 year old boys - who just happened to be at New Life Homes as babies. Alex went home to his family, the Gradins (from Oregon) on the very same day that Paul came home to us. They feel that they share a special bond and are "like brothers". Alex and his family live across the street from us and Alex is often here early in the morning to play.

Josh has a brother Katy that Grace is anxious to meet.

While being adopted is not a part of our daily conversation around here. It is in fact a part of our children's identity. It is one of the pieces of the fabric that makes up their lives and who they are. Michael, Paul and Grace are not exactly Kenyans, and they are not exactly African American. Others are not exactly sure who they are either. They are often the object of a lot of attention - and it is not always positive.

My heart felt delight to see them exchanging brief life stories (as brief as only 10 year old boys can) and realize that they share strong common bonds that in fact makes their uniqueness - completely normal.

At our house when odd situations occur and M.P.G. are feeling a little lost or confused we talk about the Apostle Paul being all things to all people. My children have the unique opportunity to share common bonds with many people. While at times it is confusing, they are each very special people. At our house uniqueness is normal!

Another day in Paradise

2008-07-30T19:21:00.000+03:00

On Saturday I went to visit the Boarding School called Joska. As we drove, I realized that I had forgotten many things about the slums. I forgot the congestion and the slight feeling of fear. The crowds and cars and life all press in so tightly. Driving is tricky on any real roads that penetrate the slums- because any space between you and the car in front is an opportunity for those crowding in their cars along side of you - to press in and take your spot. In fact, you might never move as matatus slide up either side of you and try to over take every chance. But, keeping a space is often wise - lest you find yourself in an event or activity - you want to get away from. When you are bumper to bumper and packed in on all sides - it is hard to flee a situation. While this is not "normal" life for me - it is for literally millions of Kenyans who reside in the slums and must travel in and out daily.

I forgot that everything is the color brown. The earth is brown red clay, packed down hard from millions of feet traveling over it. The buildings are mud and stick, the color of brown earth. The stone structures are brown stone cut from the ground. The tin shacks are rusty brown and the piles of garbage are brown with filth and dirt. Everything is covered with the dirt that blows and the dust that is in the air leaves a fine film everywhere. I realized, again that not one green growing thing was visible. It was as if a sepia lens had been placed over my eyes - everything is the colored by this filter. Only the filter never changes.

As we drove through we passed a small open area. It was flat and the edges were surrounded by tin shacks with rocks on the tin roofs to hold it together. Women were in clusters with their wash basins, bent over and washing their laundry. Piles of rubbish with chickens picking at it formed another boundary. In the middle were children and young men playing. I saw a girl jumping rope with a piece of twine. I saw toddlers running around barefoot and just enjoying the freedom to run. Central to this was a soccer (football) game. Close to me was a tall young man wearing a bright red and white striped knee-high football sock. It reminded me of a Christmas stocking. He only wore one - because his other leg was shriveled and bent at the knee into a queer right angle with a distorted little foot hanging off the end. He was using a stick like a cane for balance. Then I saw the most amazing thing. The ball came towards him and he put all of his weight onto the stick and with his good leg - beautifully and perfectly kicked the ball. He was GOOD! In fact, considering he had one leg, he was GREAT!

Sitting there, hardly moving I was able to watch him for a few minutes and I was in awe and humbled by his ability of live with his condition. Not just live, but play. Lee looked over and watching him said "No, special Olympics here huh?". Right, no Special Olympics here.

Life is hard in the slums. Life is very real. People work, laugh, play, cry, pray, are born and die here - it is all just a whole lot harder.

About the Pruitts

2008-07-29T08:19:00.000+03:00