A word from Lisa

Yesterday I was blessed to work with amazing medical talent as we served the community of Mtepeni. Thanks to Greg N Kelly Wagner, Karen Sandifer,Clay Brindle, Natalie, Janan, Bruce Eckel, Kansas, Courtney Shwadlenak,Sabine Branch, Mandy, Shelly, Chris Moore and Karen Russell for being such a blessing to REAL 4 Christ Ministries... — with Chris Moore.

Beautiful and Tragic

Today was beautiful and tragic all at the same time. We spent the day at Mbewau again and had a blast with the kids, but we also had an opportunity to walk them home at the end of the day. I was blessed and saddened to see the homes of two little boys I have grown to love for 3 years now. In some of the houses 5 or 6 people share one small bed, if they even have one. The children do not have toys they play with as they are lucky if they even get food at home. But they are perfectly happy with what they have! Oh how we take so much for granted. My heart is heavy and yet so grateful that even if we have nothing materially, we will always have hope in Christ!

God is Awesome

Clay Brindle from Heritage Baptist:


On this trip I've been reminded of just how awesome God is and how He can use anything for His glory. My story starts out several months ago with a little girl being bitten by a snake. Chris Moore and Donald Burrell went to visit this little girl in the hospital. While they were there, they met a young Muslim named Issa. They shared the good news of Jesus with him and invited him to church. He said that he would think about what they had told him. That was six months ago. This past Sunday, Issa came to the church at Maasai Corner for the very first time. After the service Issa walked up and professed his faith in Christ. When he found out that there was a baptism after the service, he asked to do it right then. I had the great privilege to perform that baptism for my new brother in Christ. This just proves how sovereign God is, that he can use the tragedy in one girls life to bring a new life to him.

Thank God for Crisis.

  I have been fortunate to come to Mombasa for the forth time this year.  Each year has its own challenges, heartbreaks, and success stories. The story I'm about to share is a year in the making. Last year, while visiting with the kids at the Good News Academy, I heard of a woman in the village that wanted to talk to a Christian.  After hearing her story, I jumped at the opportunity that the Lord had put in my lap.  She had a very sick little baby with a high fever. As an American, we have access to medicine and hospitals, but here in Kenya, food and water are luxuries.  The mother ended up selling all she had to pay for a witch doctor (yes, they really exist here), to heel her child. He tried this by taking her money, tying a home made necklace and bracelet around her neck and wrist. This would, "scare away evil spirits."  I walked with a translator, Philip, to her home (a one room mud hut) to talk with her.  When I arrived, the 6 month old was very sick with pneumonia and had a very high fever. she told me that both her and her husband relied heavily on witchcraft, but she realized that it wasn't helping her child. While her husband was at work, she called me in for a visit. Spiritually confused and desperate to save her child, she just wanted someone to help her. I  shared the gospel with her.  I didn't get the response that I wanted, but I told her the truth and we prayed for the healing of the child. I knew as I was leaving that I may never know on this side if heaven if the baby survived.
      Skip ahead one year.... I'm back at the good news academy. Philip, the translator, finds me and ask, "Do you remember me?" I told him that I do remember him and immediately pull a picture out of my pocket of the mother and baby and ask him, "Is the baby alive?"  With excitement he says, "Yes!"  I was so relieved and a huge weight that I had carried around for an entire year was lifted off of my shoulders. I said I wanted to go and visit and Philip said he would have to talk with the family first to make sure  they were home. A couple of hours later Philip came to me and said, "I visited with the family today." I said , "Good! I can't wait to see them and hold the baby." He said, "They are very excited to see you, but I have some bad news....the baby died 2 weeks ago.  She became ill once again and died with a high fever on the way to the hospital."  
    Some may read this and wonder where the success story is. You see, as a Christian, I KNOW where the baby is at. I KNOW I will see her again. Also, had she never been ill the first time, the mother would have never heard the gospel message. Philip informed me that the mother had been coming to the church and that he believed that she was saved. Yes, God can even use a sick child to reach others. 

Romans 8:28 
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Keith Mathews

"Sing to the Lord a new song, sing to the Lord all the earth. Sing to the Lord, praise His name, proclaim His salvation day after day. Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous deeds among all people." - Psalm 96:1-3

Jambo from Kenya!! God is so good and He is working in mighty ways! We spent Saturday, Sunday, and Monday at Maasai Corner in Shimba Hills near Ukunda, Kenya. It is so amazing to see the growth of that property in a few short years! Two years ago, when I first came to Kenya, Maasai Corner was a church that met under a mango tree. Today God has grown Chris and Lisa Moore's ministry into a church, a clinic, a feeding center and recently a school with over 70 beautiful children!

We spent Saturday going hut to hut and spreading the gospel around the villages. Sunday we worshiped with Pastor Chondo and his church, singing praises and hearing the word of God! Donald gave the message and Pastor Chondo translated. One man, who was previously a Muslim, gave his life to Christ during the service and then he was baptized alongside three other new believers after the service. Four guys on our team (Clay, Tom, Mark, and Ethan) got to baptize them! What a neat way to welcome new believers into the family of God, all the way here in Kenya!! After church we held a clinic for the people in need while others on our team played with the children and shared the gospel! Monday we got to spend time with the precious school children at Maasai Corner! We played with them and held another clinic where we were able to give all the children immunizations.

God has put many people in our path that we can share His story with! From the airports, to the plane rides, at the schools, and on the trails in Kenya, we are declaring the glory of God to the nations! Thank you for your prayers and support! Please continue to pray that we will be the hands and feet of Christ in whatever ways possible!

Mungu Akubariki (God Bless You)!
Courtney Shwadlenak

Hallmark/Heritage Team Have Arrived

The Hallmark and Heritage Baptist team from Texas has arrived safely in Kenya.  The hotel they are staying at is having issues with their internet so it may be a few days before they can get us some stories and pics.

Team leader Donald Burrell was able to call his wife Stacy.  Several ministry bags were lost but they hope to get them in a couple of days.  The generator is also down so they will not be able to show the Jesus movie as planned.  The team will be hosting a couple of medical clinics and loving on the kids at the Maasai Corner School.  Tomorrow (Sunday) they will worship with the people at Maasai Corner Church.  Kenyan worship is an exciting time.  Please pray that many souls will accept Christ as their personal Savior.

Inspiring Thoughts from a 15 year old!

 I Have Learned:

I have learned to endure 17 hour plane rides and how to deal with jet lag. I have learned to get over bugs and how to kill cockroaches the size of a small fist. I have learned what my left hand means and what not to do with it. I have learned a collection of Swahili words. I have learned to share Christ with total strangers. I have learned what to do when you are peed on. I have learned to walk miles on end with a 15 lbs backpack. I have learned how to give a bible away and how great the need is for one. I have learned how to listen, even if I can't understand. I have learned to smile more, because it displays universal happiness. I have learned how to cry. I have learned to how to walk barefoot in mud, stone, gravel, and sand. I have learned to appreciate many things including ice cubes, air conditioning, paved roads, stop signs, stop lights, and houses not made out of mud. I have learned that fruit is always better without preservatives. I have learned that clothing is clothing wether it is miss me's or a plain t-shirt. I have learned the meaning of respect. I have learned to enjoy chapati's, oogali, beans, rice, and to fully appreciate the wonders of peanut butter. I have learned what starving looks like. I have seen death and learned sorrow for those I don't know. I have learned just how small a coffin can be. I have learned how something small can inspire so much joy. I have heard the angels sing in the form of children. I have learned what happy means. I have learned the magic of shaving cream and thousands of ways to use it. I have learned how to be unselfish. I have learned to allow my hair to be ripped out for the sake of ten little girls all trying to braid it. I have learned to haggle and to avoid camel poop. I have learned not to run on uneven and slippery stones. I have learned how to teach kids who don't speak the same language as me
and how to entertain them at a moments notice. I have learned to truly appreciate teachers and what they do. I have learned the meaning of welcome. I have learned the meaning of excess and to never waste food. I have come to question the "American Way". I have learned the meaning of hospitality. I have learned how to be a minority and how many cows I'm worth. I have learned not to be picky and how not to match. I have learned what starving animal look like and the simple joy of a piece of candy. I have learned to calculate shillings into dollars and dollars to shillings. I have learned the meaning of beautiful and how to stretch money. I have learned to be a teacher's aid and to enjoy beautiful sunsets and roaring lions. But most importantly, I have learned to love. I have learned the meaning, purpose, and plan of love... Of His Love. 

I cannot explain my trip more than this. However, I will tell you that you need to Go. Nothing compares to this journey that has hopefully changed my life. I plan, with God willing, to return as soon as possible to my new favorite place on Earth: Where people are poor in riches and rich in all-consuming love. I miss my kids and my Africa already! I pray that God blesses you as much as He has blessed me. Having just returned to a country were everything is bleak, unfeeling, concrete, and grossly excessive, I hope to appreciate what I have been given and to try to bless others and spark the same flame that has be ignited in me.

Come to Africa and see what you will learn,

Madeline