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June Newsletter From Mbita, Suba Kenya
July 1, 2004
Dear Ron,
Thanks for your reply and encouragement.
Here is our latest newsletter from Mbita.
God bless
Sylvia Suhr
June Newsletter From Mbita, Suba Kenya
Greetings in the Lord!
First of all we would like to thank the people who are praying for us and have sent money and parcels here, you are such a blessing, may God richly bless you in all you do for Him.
We have had a very powerful week here in Mbita, at least ten people were saved as on Moses birthday (6/21/04)
He preached at a funeral of a four month old baby and we were able to encourage the parents and relatives that baby Phalin would be in heaven and safe with Jesus.
We went into the hut with the parents and the child was on the floor covered with a blanket, we asked the parents if they would like a picture of the baby so they uncovered the baby and Prari took a picture. She was beautiful, she looked like an angel.
After Moses preached the grandmother put the baby into the coffin and the nails were hammered in and the baby was buried next to the hut.
The baby died as they were carrying her to the clinic for treatment for malaria.( This is the worst area in East Africa for Malaria and HIV/AIDS).
The child had just got sick with Malaria that day and the family took their child to the clinic, I do not know if they even had money to go to a clinic because they did not have any money for the funeral or the coffin. It is good that Moses is such a man of God because he really helped that family to bury their daughter.
After the funeral we went to pray for another baby that was sick, we felt defeated....not another child!
When we arrived at the hut we found children playing outside, the area was covered in cow dung and rubbish, They all were just sitting amongst the animals cows, chickens and starving dogs. One baby about one year old had cow dung on his behind, he was just sitting in it. All of them had ragged clothes and the little ones had no trousers on--not even underwear.
They all had worms, these people are so hungry they eat dirt. They do not have food so they eat what they have, dirt is something they have. They get worms through eating the dirt mixed with cow dung.
We advised them to clean up the area and put a fence around so they children have somewhere to play, we gave them some vitamins and we also told them to teach there children not to eat dirt! The situation is hopeless! But we have come to bring hope.....We serve a mighty God who can do all things, He is the God of Hope.
This family has cows, so at least they have some milk, many of the families are worse off because they do not have even milk from the cows. After seeing that family we cannot imagine worse.
The people in this area have very little food and have to climb a big hill to fetch water from the lake, they are starving.
We prayed for the baby that was inside,the child was sick they believe it was epilepsy. She was about 5 months old, she had sores on her nose and in her ear and the flies clung to her especially where the sores were. When we went back three days later the grandmother testified that the child was healed, AMEN!
Most the time I feel like I am in a movie here...things seem so unreal. I watch things happen and I do not even have enough information to download them into my head. During the funeral I (Prari) promised myself I would be strong, God was a huge help! I think the hardest thing was watching the mother as tears crept down her face I had to shut my eyes so tight so that I would not cry.
Moses birthday was still a success even after the difficult loss. He had never had a birthday party so Sylvia and I (Prari) showed him how its done!
He had a present, decorations and even a cake made out of Oreo's (biscuits from America)...we have to improvise here. It was fun to watch him just like a little child on their birthday!
We went to a place called Litare which is on the far side of Rusinga island, where about 12 people received Christ and we established a new fellowship. We have been hoping to get into this area for months, it is supposed to be the worst area for orphans and widows.
We have seen many people healed this week.
There is a very bad outbreak of Malaria at the present time because we have been having some rain...praise God for the rain but many people where we have been visiting have needed prayer.
ICIPE, which is the place that does research on malaria and insects is now giving free treatment for adults with malaria...that is such a blessing.
We visited the home of the family (both of Samwell, the man who lost his wife, and the two people who lost their baby) the other day. It seems this whole area is one big family, many of them are young men and they are now saved and coming to church and fellowships, God is building a strong foundation here and they will become mighty in the kingdom of God.
We had a fellowship that went from 2-7:30 it was amazing!! We have a real connection with this family we feel as if we are a part of them now. Many people got saved on this day also. Moses has a powerful anointing, AMEN! It was just like in Jesus' time there were so many people that people were standing outside just listening to the Word of God!
We had 22 of these people walk a far way many with babies on there backs to attend church on Sunday.
God is so good!
We received 20 sacks of Maize for the Church and also harvested from the land at ICIPE, which really has fed a lot of families. We are thankful that we can take some of this food up to this area so that they can be fed for just a little bit longer.
After we announced to some families that we were giving away free maize, they came to collect maize and when they went back they told so many people that for 2 days they were lining up at our front door, many people were saved as we shared the gospel message with them and some of them came to church on Sunday.
James 2:15-17
Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes or daily food if one of you say to him,
"Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed" but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it not accompanied by actions is dead.
We try to bring nutritious food to Samwell every time we go there so that he can grow strong. Prari's mom sent Vitamins for adults and children (PRAISE GOD) and they have really helped so that people can get the nutrition they need here.
The children's vitamins are great and taste good so we find it much better than giving out sweets.
Many of the children have worms so the nutrition doesn't really help as much as it could ....we desperately need medical supplies! It's amazing here we walk around and pray for people to get healed and God heals them...it's just like Jesus. We are so blessed to be here, that God considers us worthy to serve him in Kenya!
The other day as I (Prari) was walking to Church I saw a child about the age of 10 who was so emaciated, his arms were the size of my wrist and he was so sick. I'm sure he had AIDS. He also had worms so badly that he looked like he was nine months pregnant. I felt so upset that I didn't even know what to do. I just watched him walk past me and began to pray for healing for the child. People know all about AIDS in Africa but I do not think many realize how much it is killing people until they fall in love with these people and then you have to watch them suffer from such a horrible disease...It is heartbreaking.
Even through all the difficulties we see Gods hand so abundantly. We are constantly amazed at all that God is doing with this area, He has given us an open heaven and we are using this time to go out every day visiting different areas and showing the love of God to these people, we are blessed to be a blessing.
Please continue to pray for us and for the people of Suba that God will put it on the hearts of people to give so that these people can live a happy prosperous life.
Other prayer needs:
* RAIN!!! This will help so the people can grow more vegetables so they can eat throughout the year when more drought comes, also rain will fill the water tanks so people have water to drink!
* Finances to buy land and establish a community to care for widows and orphans. Also land for a Church, so all the people that are coming to church will be able to have a place to grow and prosper, right now we are in a small school building that barely fits all the people that come in it.
* That God will raise up friends for this ministry here and overseas, this ministry is totally dependant on resources from friends, everyone here is a voluntary worker in the ministry.
* Medical supplies
* The health of the people here.
* That God will continue to raise up faithful committed people of God to work in the ministry.
* Pray for the protection of God’s people in this Spiritual battle.
* That this ministry will continue to prosper and have favour with God.
Thank you so much. God Bless all of you.
Love in Christ, Suba, Mbita team
sylvia@mbita.mimcom.net
Sylvia Suhr
P.O. Box 76
Mbita 040305
Suba
Kenya
Location: Mbita, Kenya
Website: http://www.kenyasoworgo.net
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