Greetings Family, Friends and CMO Supporters!

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters . . . God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good” Genesis 1:1-2, 31.

Brian and I have always shared a deep appreciation for God’s creative powers in nature. We love stargazing, camping, hiking, and exploring the great outdoors. Brian is especially fond of lizards and frogs, while I enjoy giraffes the most. Both of us believe in the truth of the Genesis account of Creation. We wonder at other’s abilities to observe God’s awesome power and attention to detail in creation’s design, yet to believe that any of it could have happened by chance. “For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse” Romans 1:20. Kenya provides beautiful new opportunities for us to marvel at God’s gifts to us in nature. Those same opportunities for sheer appreciation of what He’s given to these people, provides even greater opportunities to see how blind people are to His greater gifts of salvation and redemption. Please pray with us that as we enjoy the adventures of Kenya, we will be faithful to walk through every door God opens to share Jesus’ gift with the blind and perishing. Pray also that we will be an encouragement to the Christian church in Kenya as we share in their local ministries.

In mid-April we boarded a train for the 10-hour trip to Mombasa on Kenya’s eastern coast at the Indian Ocean. Our week-long sojourn was highlighted by trips to Fort Jesus, Bamburi Nature Trail, Ngomongo Village, downtown old Mombasa, and our friend Joshua’s homestead in Chonyi. Brian and Joshua became friends during our first month here while Joshua attended classes at CMBCI. While we visited Joshua’s family in Chonyi, about 1 hour inland from the ocean, Brian was asked to preach at the church where Joshua’s father has been pastoring for over 20 years. Given only 10 minutes notice with a congregation of 300+ before him, Brian relied on the Holy Spirit to speak through him and the message he shared was an encouragement to the church. Our trip to Mombasa was refreshing and turned out to be as much a ministry trip as a mini-vacation.

Currently we’re working on obtaining our work permits, which must be sponsored by a registered Kenyan organization and approved by the Kenyan government. We are still in the first phase of the process, sponsorship by the denomination we work under called Pentecostal Evangelistic Fellowship of Africa (P.E.F.A.). One of the steps in the first phase is language school and we are really looking forward to beginning formal Kiswahili training as soon as possible. Currently our visitors’ visas have been extended through August at which time we will need to have obtained our work permits or will need to leave and re-enter Kenya through the airport to receive fresh visitor’s visas. Please be in prayer with us that what is typically a long process might be divinely sped up so that we will be able to continue ministry uninterrupted for our first 10 months here.

“Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, "Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain." And God granted his request” 1 Chronicles 4:10. Driving in Kenya is an experience unlike anything you can imagine. Road conditions are terrible, traffic patterns are confusing, vehicles are unreliable, drivers are speedy and reckless and to top it all off they drive on the left! Needless to say we had not been too excited about jumping into this aspect of Kenyan culture, however, once Brian drummed up the courage and we found a good map we discovered Brian is a great Kenya driver. Although we don’t currently have a vehicle on a regular basis, God has granted our requests to be able to enlarge our territories and thus far kept us free from harm and pain.

The first half of May has been exceptionally busy. We welcomed Pastor Gene Throop to our home for about 10 days and thoroughly enjoyed his company. Meetings in Nairobi occupied much of his trip, but we were able to travel to the home and local church of CMBCI Principal Paul Kisoso in Lema, about a 2-hour drive from Sultan Hamud. Pastor Gene’s sermon in Lema on Judges 14 challenged and encouraged us to hold onto the victories God has already given us in ministry. After a tearful good-bye to Pastor Gene on May 11, we began preparations to welcome the next term of Bible College students and the newly formed Board of Alumni on May 13. Stacy preached for the first time in Kenya at the Emali church plant on May 15, then on May 18 we celebrated Stacy’s

birthday with a special lunch and fierce rounds of UNO long into the night with some of our closest friends. Our friend Francis was even able to produce 2 slices of birthday cake and cookies for dessert!

Memorial Day weekend Brother Scott Hodson will arrive in Kenya for a couple of weeks of evangelism, discipleship, encouragement and prayer ministry. Brother Scott, or Uncle Scott as he’s fondly called here in Kenya, was recently licensed by CMO U.S. to Preach the Gospel and we’re excited to have him share his passion for Jesus and love for Kenya with us. Kenya is a nation steeped in corruption, which causes many of its people to live under the oppression of poverty and hopelessness. Intercessory prayer will be the focus of Brother Scott’s time here and we hope to culminate the trip in a prayer walk around Kenya’s capital city Nairobi. Please pray that Brother Scott’s trip will be successful in the eyes of the Lord and that all of us will step aside as we allow the Holy Spirit to set our itinerary.

We are thankful for all of the encouraging emails, letters, cards, and care packages you have sent. Many of you have recently been part of special prayer times for this ministry, sometimes into the wee hours of the morning and your support means so much to all of us. Our entire ministry team is aware of the strength your faithful prayers impart to us through the spirit of the body of Christ. Thank you for being such a real part of our ministry.

CMBCI’s newly formed Board of Governors is scheduled to meet for the first time May 25-26. This fresh Board represents a positive change towards growth for CMBCI. Please be in prayer for this new leadership team as they begin looking towards the future of CMBCI through the addition of a professor, changes in CMBCI policies and procedures, more emphasis on local and international promotion of the college, a stronger partnership with CMO U.S. team, and much more. Pray with us that these men will seek God’s will for CMBCI and any personal agendas will be set aside: William Sororonyi, Paul Kisoso, Joseph Mofat, Peter Randa, Daniel Kiseme, Philip Musao, Daniel Lengesia, Enock Sirengo, Julius Musyimi.

May 15 a second Kiswahili class reported to begin their fifth term at CMBCI. There are three groups of students whose terms run concurrently throughout the year. All three classes, two taught in Kiswahili and one in English, are scheduled to graduate in November 2006. The three classes represent Kenyan and Tanzanian, men and women from many different tribes, denominations and walks of life. After these classes graduate they will have the opportunity to join the newly revived CMBCI Alumni Association, giving them the chance to participate in the improvement and growth of CMBCI from a different angle. May 13-14 the new Board of Alumni met for goal setting and a time of fruitful discussion on how they will contribute to CMBCI’s future. Giving a voice to graduates will allow the administration to gain valuable insights through hearing student perspectives.

One of the most requested improvements to the college continues to be the development of our library. Praise the Lord a shipment of books is already on its way across the ocean thanks to our friends in Indianapolis who made this first shipment possible! If you or your church have or know of anyone who might have good Christian books needing a place of honor in a Bible college library, please contact us at clouds2kenya@yahoo.com or send a note to CMO, 5495 Sinai Rd., Bristow, IN 47515 so that we can connect you to the people providing shipping services.