March 2005

Greetings Family, Friends and CMO Supporters!

What an exciting month this has been! We arrived in Kenya on February 15 to begin a new life of service with Calvary Ministries Outreach International. Our travel from the US was as easy as it possibly could have been. On our flight from London, God put us next to another young missionary from the UK whose passion is teaching drama as a way for churches to reach out to the community about HIV/AIDS prevention. Having already spent 10 months in Kenya, she was an invaluable resource and encouragement to us. We’ve been greeted by old friends and begun to build new relationships. Settling into our house has been an adventure as we adjust to mosquito nets, lizards, boiling water for warm baths, hand washing laundry and large quantities of bat droppings. Yes, that’s right bat droppings… our aged house has cracks along the walls where the ceiling meets and dirt and droppings kept falling on our kitchen counters (where we store food and dishes) and bedding. Fortunately the problem has been easily corrected with an afternoon of crack filling by a local fundi (repairman in Swahili). Our first full day was spent with our landlord’s wife, daughter and grandson. They took special care of us, feeding us and showing us around town, in addition to taking us to a local dairy farm (where cows are kept in pens and hand milked) in order to buy milk. It took over 2 hours for us to get 9 liters of milk, fresh from the cow, which then needed to be boiled, cooled, skimmed and frozen. Purchasing milk this way gives a whole new meaning to grabbing a gallon of milk on the way home! We’ve also hired a friend of ours, Francis Mutuku, to help around the house and teach us Swahili. He’s a recent graduate of CMO Bible College, husband, father of two, member of the worship band and local church elder. He’s a busy man! We are appreciating having him around and adjusting to having him live with us throughout the week (a perfectly normal and expected thing here in Kenya).

On our visit to the dairy farm we saw a large pack of baboons crossing the highway towards town, we are told in search of water. The lack of water has driven wildlife closer to human populated areas. Many of you are aware of the drought and famine conditions in Kenya recently. Though not much news has been shared in the last couple of months concerning the relief efforts here, we have found that the need for assistance is still great. Local herdsmen have to move their livestock miles from home to find pasture and water. Lands are so dry and dusty that respiratory problems are running rampant. We encourage those of you who have been lead to support the famine relief effort here to continue your giving for a little longer. The rains should begin in March and we pray they are sufficient to promote healthy growth around the country.

God is moving at Calvary Ministries Bible College International. 1600 attendees gathered to celebrate the graduation of 42 Kenyan and Tanzanian students last November. CMO Director Gene Throop and Pastor John Thomas of Peru, Indiana flew from the U.S. to attend the ceremony. Word of CMBCI’s work for the Kingdom is spreading in Kenya especially among the officials at PEFA, the umbrella denomination under which CMO works in Kenya. Another PEFA college graduation took place at the same time as CMBCI, but many PEFA officials chose to attend the ceremony at CMBCI. A new College Board of Governors was named during the graduation. Each new member was in attendance and the administration is looking forward to times of growth and renewal for the College.

February 21 a new group of students arrived and began their first term at CMBCI. CMBCI offers a three-year program where students come every 3 months for 1 month at a time. Their entire three-year education consists of 9 months of intensive study. Each day begins at 7 AM with breakfast and first class starting at 7:30 AM. Classes last all day, with a short break, brief chapel service and an hour for lunch. Most days end around 4:15 PM, however for the first week of class students also report for an after dinner class at 8 PM. Students are often found in the classroom studying or chapel praying into the later hours of the night. Their dedication to entering their individual fields of ministry is humbling.

The team of servants who run the Bible College are an amazing group of people. Each month we’ll introduce you to another member of the team so that you may pray for them and know them better. This month we’re pleased to introduce you to Enock Sirengo Wamasebu, part-time lecturer for CMBCI. Enock has been a part of CMBCI since it’s inception in the capacity of board member and now teacher. His role these last four years is to teach the first intensive week of classes for each new term of students. Enock graduated in the top of his class from Nairobi Pentecostal Bible College, even though he never graduated high school. His own call to teaching came in 1990, when he began teaching at the Nairobi Pentecostal Bible College. His experiences have included one year of interim principal at NPBC, one-year certification at Elim Bible Institute in the US and an ongoing pastoral ministry. Enock travels three hours from his home each term to reach CMBCI in Sultan Hamud. When he’s not teaching, he’s pastoring a church in his hometown. Talking with Enock is a joy and blessing as his love for the Lord and passion for teaching pour from his wide grin and kind eyes. As a teacher and also member of the board for CMBCI, Enock has big dreams for the college. His concerns are for the comfort of the students at the college and include such things as flush toilets, sinks for hand washing, a ladies dorm and teacher’s quarters.

March 25^th the first alumni reunion of all CMBCI graduates will take place here in Sultan Hamud. We’ll be sharing the stories and testimonies of how these graduates have been ministering and using their education in future newsletters. Please pray with us that everyone will have the ability to attend and that the Holy Spirit would anoint the event.

Recent conversations with people from Tanzania have given rise to concerns that Tanzania may soon be closed to evangelistic mission efforts as the government becomes increasingly Muslim. Please pray for opportunities for CMO to reach the Maasai of Tanzania. Last June a small joint Kenyan and U.S. team spent time with local Tanzanian churches preaching and laying the groundwork for future ministry among the Maasai. Praise the Lord for divine appointments and hearts open to the Gospel. This June a small evangelistic team may also have the opportunity to return to Tanzania. Please be in prayer for the people who are coming from the U.S. and for the Kenyan team to know where ministry would best be accomplished this summer. Please also be in prayer about preparations for a local soccer ministry to the youth of this area. We want the youth here to know that being a Christian is exciting and to introduce them to the idea of full time ministry service.

We praise God for the committed team of people working here in Kenya. There is vision and passion stirring in the hearts among the leadership to see the Bible College grow and find new ways to reach out to the Maasai people of Kenya and Tanzania. Thank you for praying and partnering with us. We’re excited to bring you closer to the work of Jesus through our ministry with Calvary Ministries Outreach International.

Bwana asifiwe! (Praise the Lord)

Brian & Stacy Cloud

Praise the Lord! What a blessing it is to have Brian & Stacy Cloud on board with us as missionaries to the Maasai in Kenya. Brian & Stacy's duties will vary greatly depending upon the need. They are currently working with Calvary Ministries Bible College, Int’l in Sultan Hamud. They will assist in implementing the budget, improving our record keeping and improving our communications with the staff and Board of Governors. Please keep them in your prayers daily.

As the famine in Kenya worsens, we will be needing to supply more and more assistance. The rains should begin at any time, but then there is a growing season before food is produced. So, the rains do not mean the famine is over. If the Lord should touch your heart concerning this need, please respond with the best offering that you can send.

Also, as new classes begin in the Bible College, we have a whole new group of students that are not yet supported. The students are only required to pay around $75.00 per year for their education. We furnish text books, room and board and attend to their medical needs while they are on campus. As you can see, the small amount that the students pay doesn’t come close to covering the actual cost of their education. So we need your help. Please join with us by supporting a Bible College student. Please complete the enclosed form and partner with us in spreading the Gospel.

There is no better way to reach the world for Jesus than to train native pastors to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ to their own people.

Thank you and may the Lord bless you.

Serving Jesus,

Rev. Gene Throop, Pres.

Calvary Ministries Outreach, Int’l