Latest from ELI's Blog

"Today, we entered into another world!"

This morning, the team was taken to a site about half an hour's drive from ELI's training center to visit two different cattle camps. "As we got closer, you could see a white line," Don explained. "And the closer we got, the bigger our eyes got."

At one site, there were 2,000 long-horn cows tied up closely and staked to the ground. (To the Dinka people, cows are very important.) "For every two cows, there was one child or one teenager. They literally live among the cows," he went on. "When it rains, they put up cowhide shelters. To keep warm, they make little piles of cow maneur which they burn. The younger kids have no clothing, and their dark skins are covered in while dust from the fires. They even sleep among the cattle to keep the cows safe."

Don talked of speaking to one of the leaders. This guy has 400 cows, and when things got bad in Sudan, he took his cows and walked for two months toward Uganda, where things were safer. Now that there's peace in Sudan, he once again walked for two months to get back to Southern Sudan. This man has been living among his cows for 20 years. (That's just a year short of how long the war in Sudan lasted.)

"My God is the Father of Jesus," he told the team. "I trust Jesus as my Savior." He cannot read or write, nor can any others at the cattle camp. Except for one guy. This one guy can read, and every Sunday, he reads to the others from the Bible.

When they asked if the children knew any songs, they pulled up a cowhide drum and a stick and started singing a praise song that said "Jesus is the tree, we are the branches, and someday we'll be together in heaven."

"This was a very moving experience," Don said. "I kept thinking how we can do ministry among these people."

In the afternoon, Steve Fitch did a seminar on planting the guava, mango and papaya seeds he had brought. The Sudanese team are planning on starting work on this project immediately. They'll be planting the seeds in plastic tubes, and by the time the rain comes in April, they will be ready to replant the seedlings.

Samuel (Teimuge), Don and Steven Reech had a long meeting about ELI's plans while the rest of the team brainstormed ministry ideas.

On Sunday, they will be in church from 7:30 to 10. "This is because it gets too hot after 10," Don explained. "Plus, by 10 o'clock people have to go and milk their cows."

After church, they will be meeting with pastors to talk about spiritual development and challenges. They will also try and visit a Christian clinic and hope to continue discussing future plans.

On Monday, they will head to Bor, which is by the Nile River to finalize plans and discussions. On Tuesday, they fly home.

Don assured me that everyone on the team is doing well, and that no-one is sick. They tried resting for an hour this afternoon, but it was too hot. It cools down to comfortable temperatures in the evenings.

They have decided to continue staying at the NGO where they slept the first night since there is no water at ELI's site yet, and staying at the NGO means they're closer to a place where they can eat.

Please continue to pray:

• for clarity regarding future steps
• for continued health and safety
• for the children and teenagers the team met today
• for each of the children that attend the ELI school
  
• for God to speak to and through the team at tomorrow's meetings

In case you were wondering: I had mentioned yesterday that our school goes only up to third grade. Agewise, though, the students include kids well into their teens, even in first grade. Due to the war, they simply hadn't had a chance to go to school until now.

Sudan Day 2

This comes from the ELI Blog:

"We had a very, very good day," Don said almost immediately when he called tonight. One could hear in his voice that he was tired, physically and possibly emotionally as well. The team had experienced some very moving events today. They had visited ELI Sudan's school where the 160 children (the numbers rise by the day!) were being fed kideri. Twice a week, the children are given this meal of rice, potatoes and beans. "For many children, these meals are the most nutricious food they get all week! I wish we could feed them every day, but right now, two weekly meals is all we can afford. The children are covered with dust and look hungry. They're skinny and many are sick-looking... It was a very moving experience."

The children meet in some abandoned classrooms across the road from ELI's property. There are no desks, no chairs, and only two of the five classes have a small chalk board. "The staff had built little rows of seats for the kids from mud." Right now, we employ five teachers:
two first-grade classes
one second-grade class
one third-grade class

The kids don't have uniforms (public schools in Africa require uniforms), but they're very grateful for school.

Other than visiting the school, the team rode for 20 minutes on the back of a pick-up to go to various meetings. They did home visits and met with the village chief who expressed his appreciation for what ELI is doing. "We welcome ELI completely," he told the team.

They also had three to four hours of discussion on what can be done down the road to help the people of Sudan. Daily, more and more refugees are returning from the area, but the cost of living is very high, and most people have little or no money. A bag of maize sells for 1,000 Kenyan schillings ($13) across the border. In Sudan, the price is trippled.

Tomorrow, they will train Steven Reech (ELI's country director in Sudan), Zacharia Maluk (headmaster of the school) and Abraham Kon (a Sudanese man who spent two months last year doing agricultural training at ELI Kenya) on how to plant and care for the seeds Steve Fitch had brought. The Sudanese leaders are very keen on planting the mango, papaya and guava seeds and to see the trees bearing fruit!

"One of our greatest needs right now," Don explained, "is water. We'll want to dig a well soon.

Please pray:

1. for continued health and energy
2. for discernment on what God would have them do
3. for their visit on Saturday to the cattle camps where children are living among the cow
4. for their visit on Sunday to a local church, and their meeting with pastors after church. Pray that they will know how to encourage and bless the believers and their pastors
5. for clarity on how ELI can partner with churches to plant spiritual seeds and see those come to bear fruit...

Thank you for praying!

Kevin in Sudan

Steve Fitch and Kevin Robertson are currently with a team from Empowering Lives International traveling from Kenya to Sudan. We received word that someone from ELI will be posting information about
the progress of their trip. Go to: http://elikenya.blogspot.com/
to find out more about what they are doing in Sudan and how to pray
more specifically for them. (Kevin Robertson really is
there.....but they are calling him Kevin Robinson on the website!)

-Conference Office

post from ELI blog

This is copied from the Empowering Lives International blog:

The team's all here
Late this afternoon, as the sun was turning the sky red, Tom Hamick and Jim Mann arrived at Ilula. Tom's been coming to Kenya for the past nine years. For Jim, it's his first time to Africa. (The same can be said for Kevin Robertson, who arrived yesterday.) I love watching newcomers as they are greeted by our 90 singing children! After the welcome and a tree-planting ceremony, we had a great time of visiting over dinner. People shared stories over a welcome plate of chicken and chips. Note: This is not your typical Kenyan meal, but the team will most likely subsist on ramen noodles, granola bars and peanut butter for the next week! And water. Lots of water, since it's very, very hot. (One Kenyan staff member shared tonight that in Africa, we never say how hot it is in terms of degrees. It's either hot, or VERY hot. Sudan is very, very hot.)And then we broke out in song, worshiping together, praying, and Philip Rutto (one of the parents, who is also a pastor) commissioned the team.
As the rest of us left, the team stayed for a meeting.We're having breakfast early and then they'll head for the domestic airport, where they'll board a chartered plane. It's a 90-minute flight to the border, where they have to land to clear customs. Then it's another hour flight to Padak, where they'll be met by Steven Reech, who is heading up the ELI base in Sudan.The team will be going to LOOK, LISTEN and LEARN for the next week.

Please pray:
For God to graciously break their hearts for Sudan, but more than that, for them to extend Hope
For every single encounter the team has with Sudanese, for God to speak to and through the team
For wisdom for Juli (our Nurse Practitioner) to know how to treat patients despite limited medical resources. Also pray for vision for the future of the health ministry.
For the team to be filled with GOD's love for every single person they encounter, regardless of who they are, as well as for GOD's confidence in every situation.
For safety during travels as well as good health.

Psalm 56:3-4 What time I am afraid, I will have confidence in and put my trust and reliance in You. By [the help of] God I will praise His word; on God I lean, rely, and confidently put my trust; I will not fear. What can man, who is flesh, do to me?

Joshua 1:9Have not I commanded you? Be strong, vigorous, and very courageous. Be not afraid, neither be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

Kenya

I have traveled thousands of miles and I have met hundreds of men, women and children.
I have seen things I could never imagine. It has brought great sadness and great joy as well. Words can not explain.


The children’s home here has the best the staff and the school teachers are so committed to these children. I served the children dinner last night and my eyes were filled with tears of joy. Scripture says: “If you help the least of these my brothers, you have helped me.” When I was feeding these children it was like I was looking into the eyes of Christ. This morning I spoke to the children at their morning assembly and later I taught about Jesus in one of the classrooms.

I was told that when I get back to the United States it would be hard to share about my experiences. I found out that this is true when I was on the phone with Jennifer this morning. I wanted to tell her so much but every time I tried talking I would stop knowing I would cry, not from sadness, but knowing that I have never been so close to God. Physically I am drained and emotionally, I have experienced every emotion I have, deeper than I ever could have imagined.

What cracks me up is I have not arrived in Sudan yet. The Sunday I’m back at Marina Christian Fellowship there is no way I can do justice on this trip in one message. Where do I start? And the trip is only half way.

This will be the last time I personally update this blog. I will have access to a satellite phone in Sudan and will be calling Jennifer often and she will update the blog.

With love,
Pastor Kevin

"Happy Valentine's Day"

Kevin called me tonight from Kenya to wish me a happy valentine's day. He is at an orphanage, called a children's home, where he is meeting with the rest of the team. He was very impressed with the facilities and the children. He even taught in a third grade class today. Many of the children speak English. He said that the people are very friendly and welcoming. He has fallen in love with the children! He is going to email some pictures to me when he gets internet access, and then I will post them.
Thanks for your prayers!
Jen

Zerick

Zerick was the driver that took over once I joined up with Steve. He spoke English and was a great guy. I’m going to miss him. You usually pay 70 dollars plus gas and expenses. Let me tell you, it is well worth it. The driving is crazy here! It makes Los Angeles look like a walk in the park.

arrival

I arrived at the guest house in Addis, Ethiopia around 10:00 p.m. Friday night. I was informed that the driver was going to pick me tomorrow at 6:00 a.m. You have got to be kidding! I needed to be driven down to the village where I would be meeting Supt Steve Fitch (my boss). I asked “Does the driver speak English?” Answer: no. OK… Can I have someone join us who speaks English. They provided this gentleman for me on the drive so I can communicate with the driver. Apparently he was sleepy and he slept all during the drive to the village. He cracked me up after the drive because he wants to marry an American woman. We spent the night at the village. The next morning I am scheduled to preach.

Preaching in Ethiopia

Sunday morning we arrived at the church around 9:30 a.m. Usually Ethiopian services go long, they spend the first thirty minutes in prayer and boy can they pray! Then the choir sings for 30 minutes and then it's my turn. I preached on John 15 "No greater love than this that he lay down his life for a friend." I talked about a friend I have who is sick (Gordon) and that he wanted to go with me to Africa but couldn’t go. So I brought his favorite hat and every time I put it on I am reminded to pray for my friend.

Kevin arrived in Ethiopia

I received a call from Kevin tonight (Friday). He arrived in Ethiopia around 10:00 am Friday (CA time) which was 9:00 pm Friday night in Ethiopia. He asked me to share some of how God has blessed him so far on this trip.
On his flight from Germany to Ethiopia, he sat next to an American missionary. They were two of the only people on the plane who spoke English. The man prayed with Kevin and helped him fill out the customs forms, which had been one of Kevin’s concerns. He went through customs with no problems and the driver was waiting outside the airport to pick him up. It is a blessing to see how God is with him every step of the way.
He hopes to have access to a phone to call me tomorrow with more details. I will update this blog as I hear from him. Thank you for your continued prayers!
Jen

This Is Hard.

Wednesday night I only slept for a couple of hours, I did not realize how difficlut this would be. I find myself second guessing this trip, asking myself, "what did I get myself into?"

Jennifer and I left for the airport today at 3:45 in the morning, during the short drive I was ready to breakdown in tears thinking I don't want to leave my wife, how do people do this stuff in the military?

I checked myself in and gave Jennifer her last hug, I notice she started tearing up. Then I started. So now I'm sitting here in the airport waiting for my plane feeling terrible for leaving my wife. It's incredible the bond I have with Jenn, she's been a blessing to me and is my best friend.

I know this trip will be a blessing to many, please pray for me as I will be traveling for about 26 hours. Also please pray that customs will go easy as I have with me various supplies inlcuding medicines and seedlings for the orphanage.

God Bless,

Kevin

E-mail

This is a email all the pastors received this week:

Greetings Everyone,

By the time you receive this message I will be in Ethiopia. Please join me in prayer for the ministry there as we continue their transition process towards Provisional Annual Conference. There are a lot of challenges. I will be in Ethiopia between Sunday, February 5th and Monday morning February 13th, then Kevin Robertson and I will head to Kenya for three days to become familiar with Don Rogers'
Ministry - Empowering Lives International. Finally, we are heading to Southern Sudan for six days. Our goals include: 1) Interviewing potential Sudanese pastors as we prayerfully seek to begin a new mission in this troubled nation. 2) Planting 10,000 plus fruit trees through the Eden Projects. The Northern Arabic army cut down all the fruit trees in an attempt to starve out the rebels. The people need food asap. Rick Harrell found a papaya seed that will grow from seed to producing 60 pounds of fruit in less than a year. 3) Kevin Robertson and the Marina Church have raised funds to open a war orphans boarding school. So, our time will be full. Please pray for us!
During my absence you can look to Glen Prior and your district Superintendents for leadership as needed.
Blessings upon you all,
Steve

My travel schedule:

February 9th
Los Angeles to Washington
Lufthansa Airlines # 9326
Depart 6:00 a.m. arrives 1:55 p.m.
Duration 4:55

February 9th
Washington to Frankfurt Germany
Lufthansa Airlines #9051
Depart 5:15 p.m. arrives 7:10 a.m
Duration 7:55

Febraury 10th
Frankfurt Germany to Addis Ababa
Lufthansa Airlines # 590 1 stop (Khartoum)
Depart 10:40 a.m. arrives 9:15 p.m.
Duration 8:35

February 11th
Taking a tour of the children’s Aids clinic (morning)
Travel by jeep to a small village (4 hour drive)

February 12th
I’ll be preaching twice through an interpreter
I have no Idea what to say. That night we drive back to Addis
spend the night

February 13th
Addis to Nairobi
Kenya Airways #401
Depart 10:30 a.m. arrives 12:30 p.m.
Duration 2:00

February 13th
Nairobi to Tanzania (I don’t have the details of this flight)
Meet up with the rest of the Sudan team.
This is where I will be visiting the orphans in Ilula, Kenya
I think this is where it will be hard on me emotionally knowing
that this is what I have be praying for over a year. I’m going to try to
immerse myself in everything about African orphanages.

February 16th
Fly to Sudan (this flight is flown by missionary pilots)
I’m nervous about this flight.
These pilots are crazy. They fly low - and get this,
Before they land, they fly the plane to down to only 30 feet off the ground to chase all the animals off the field where they will land. They quickly do a high bank and come around and land the plane before the animals come back to the center of the field.

February 16th – 20th
In Sudan
This is where we really need your prayers! We will meet the children and build relationships with the tribe. Also, we might be staying at the United Nations boarding house. That would be whole lot better than staying in tents.

February 21st
Now this is the B I G travel day. The mission (Crazy) pilot lands – after clearing the animals off the field again (maybe I can help this time) that morning and picks the team up. We fly to Tanzania and drop off the team. Steve Fitch (my boss) and I will continue on the plane right to Nairobi International Airport.

February 21st
Nairobi to London England
British Airways # 64
Departs 11:20 p.m. Arrives 5:05 a.m.
Duration 8:45

February 22nd
London to Los Angeles
British Airways # 283
Departs 11:55 AM Arrives 2:55 PM
Duration 11:00

HOME SWEET HOME!

PS. Please do not meet me at the airport. I will be too tired to even recognize you. All I want is my wife’s arms and my bed.

Sunday, February 26th
Full report of my trip at both services. SEE YOU THEN!

During Worship

Jennifer and I always sit together is the same place for both services and during the worship part of the service I worship most of the time. But my mind starts to focus on my message, or I look at the clock and think, “ok Brook you’re running a few minutes late so I need to pull an illustration out to keep on time.” But this Sunday as I was watching the band play during the “Joy” song, I thought “I can’t believe I’m the pastor here.” Decisions that I made 10 years ago are affecting me now. It’s like what the Bible says, “what we sow we will reap.” I always dreamed this: that one day I will always pastor my own church. During worship as I was watching the band and knowing all of them on a personal basis I have learned to love and appreciate each one of them. I have waited 22 years to pastor a church like M.C.F. Realizing that Jesus waited 22 years for me to become the person I needed to be in order to serve Him fully. Don’t give up your dreams. God is molding and changing you to be that person who He has called you to be.

Pastor Kevin
Marina Christian Fellowship
“A real church for real people”
I love typing that “lol”

Happy 40th anniversary

At the end of our 9:00 service, I called Ray and Maggie up to the front to renew their vows. What a great time! Congratulations Ray and Maggie! I love to see marriages succeed. Marriage is not easy (My wife will vouch for that) but God honors our commitment to one another. Our marriage can be our greatest testimony!

Jacob Knight

(Jacob and his mom Becky)

In 1989 at Hermon Free Methodist church I did a baby dedication. I held this newborn in my arms and prayed a prayer of dedication. What made this special to me is that I also was dedicating my godson. A few years later I found out that I could never be a father and I remember how devastated I was with this info. That I will never be called “dad” I remember the emptiness.

Through the years, being part of Jacob life has be phenomenal. A year and a half ago I had the privilege of baptizing him and last year while I baptized Hannah, Jacob preach his first 10 minute sermon on baptism. Jacob has a calling on his life and it is great to have an influence in this young man’s life.

Jacob wanted to come with me on this trip. But, his parents felt it was too dangerous (you think so?)

I always say to my congregation “God can take your most painful experiences and make them into your greatest ministries.” In 1992, I was devastated to learn that I would never be a father (my greatest pain)… in 2006 being part of giving hope to little boys and girls whose parents were murdered. Can this emptiness I had become my greatest Joy? You bet…

A side note: all my god kids call me “daddy Kevin.” God is so good!!!

Fear

Today I picked up Gordon to take him to get some blood tests done. It seems that we always get into some spiritual conversation about life and our fears.

When I leave for Sudan it will be exactly a year that Gordon was told that he had less than a year to live. In the last year I’ve really got to know and love Gordon. There is this unspoken protocol for pastors not to get emotionally attached to people in the congregation - love your congregation from afar. But, that is not me…

In the last week in preparing for this trip, I had to get 14 shots, take all kinds of pills, finish my living trust, apply for travelers insurance, and even meet with the staff and my district advisor about what to do if something happens - who would take over the church. I contacted that person and he said he would take over for me if something happens but wasn’t too thrilled about the idea (we’re great friends).

(Now back to Gordon),

Gordon: Are your scared? (talking about the Sudan trip)

Kevin: yea, I’m not sure what to expect.

Gordon: Kevin, your going to come back and the church will be blessed and you’re going to do great things for God. I know that He is going use you in great ways - you’ll see…

Kevin: Thanks, Are you scared about the future as well?

Gordon: Yes

A few months ago Gordon said something that stuck to me. He said “Kevin if I could take back my life and if I could do it over again, I would take more risks and I would have given my life over to Christ earlier.”

Risk, Courage, and His peace is my prayer. I pray that we as a body take more risks and boldly take courage by the reins. Can you image what God has out there for us?

Can we serve him with a “no fear” attitude? Let us live life every day as if it is a gift from God. Let’s not live with un-forgiveness and bitterness but with His Joy and with His calling on our life.

Gordon, I love you as a brother too much to let you go. Be strong and live with His peace - “the peace that passes all understanding.”

Pastor Kevin

Juli Mcgowan

When I fly from Addis Ethopia into Nirobia Kenya, We then will fly into Tanzania Kenya. That is where this team of 7 will meet then fly into Sudan. Juli Mcgowan will be one member of this team. Here is some infomation about her in her own words:

In the summer of 2000, I went to Kenya for the first time and served with ELI as a member of a short-term team from Azusa Pacific University. In going, I was unaware that this four-week mission trip would change my life. As a nurse, I helped deliver a baby on the floor of a mud hut. I also washed the open sores of a man dying of AIDS. I experienced brokenness and poverty. At the same time, I saw rich joy and inexpressible faith. I encountered a people and a culture that captured my heart and I knew that I had found a place to serve; but, I had more to learn first. I earned my bachelor’s degree in nursing at Azusa Pacific University and have been working in the infectious disease unit at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center for the past two and a half years. After two more summer trips to Kenya, I realized that to truly give quality care, I would need even more education. In September 2002 I went back to school at Cal State Los Angeles to get my Masters in Nursing, with an emphasis in international healthcare, and become a Family Nurse Practitioner. So, this September I will be joining the Empowering Lives International team and returning to Kenya.While in Kenya, I will be working out of a small clinic in the village of Kipkaren, doing community development and health education and caring for the medical needs of the people there. In the midst of the AIDS pandemic, I feel called to educate and to care for the people of Africa where AIDS has ravaged through cities and villages indiscriminately, destroying the physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of life. Once a week I will travel to Ilula, a village in which ELI will be opening an orphanage, where I will be in charge of the health of these children. As God leads, I will also be in the Congo for about a month where I will be doing physical examinations for 277 children at a school in the slums of Bukavu.September 1, 2004 I will be arriving in Kenya and then traveling to Tanzania for Swahili language school until the beginning of October. From there, I will return to Kipkaren to begin working within the clinic. I’m sure the rest of this year will be a season filled with adjustment and transition as I begin to live life within the village and continue to discover the areas and ways in which God is calling me to serve.

Values:

Back in the end of November I made a commitment to get in shape for this trip. So, every morning I leave the warmth of my home and I venture out into the darkness for my 4 mile walk. Each day as I am walking I come across the U.C.L.A. rowing team as they practice - 8 men or 8 woman working together as a team. They’re working together as a team with one goal in mind and that is to be the best. I don’t hear them yelling at each other. I don’t see themselves slowing down by dragging their ores. They work in unison as they glide through water.

It made me think, the reason people work as a team is because they have common values to which the team is committed. Can you imagine, we as a the body of Christ, if we held onto His values and made a committed to be part of His team! My prayer is that this team of 7 (including myself) that will be flying into Sudan will be His team. I pray that Christ will show us what breaks His heart I know without a doubt that this trip is going to radically change my perspective on life itself . I thank God that I will be part of a team of sold out men and woman that put any common sense out the door and say “Here am I send me” What can 7 people do that are committed to give hope in a war torn country?

Jesus only knows…

Right out of a Movie

I wanted to include some of the e-mail’s I have been getting to keep every one up to date on what's going on behind the scenes in preparing for the trip.

Hello Sudan team,

Through you haven't heard from me this past week I'm still alive and on the line for getting our Sudan info completed.
I've talked with Steven Reech several times by phone and they (Steven and the EL Sudan staff) are in place. The truck Steven escorted with the construction supplies he had purchased in Kenya made it safely all the way (four days across the desert).

I am still trying to get the final costs and bookings for our flights from Kenya to Padak, Sudan.
It is most likely somewhere in the range of $7,500 total for both flights. We will need to hire a charter (Both AIM and MAF are almost the same cost) and when we go there the plane cannot stay with us and even when the plane returns empty we must cover the cost of that fuel and pilot as well. This is an unavoidable cost unless there is another group who will want to fill those empty seats.
At this point we are planning to fly into Sudan on Feb. 16th and back to Kenya on the 21st

Looks like there will be seven of us going. Can I ask if it's possible to divide this plane cost into thirds which is $2,500 each group below?

Steve Fitch (Pastor)
Kevin Robertson (Pastor)
--------

Tom Hamic (ELI Friend and construction)
Jim Mann (Pastor - Upland, CA)
---------
Don Rogers
Samuel Teimuge (ELI Kenya director)
Juli McGowan (ELI Kenya RN and HIV/AIDS coordinator)

We may need to bring tents with us from Kenya so keep open in terms of accommodations. You should consider coming with a camping air mattress.

Thanks again for being a part of this important venture. God is with us.

Serving together,

Don

This flight reminds me of " Indiana Jones The Temple of doom"

Pastor Kevin