Missions
The Potters
How long ministering there
We are now into our 8th year as missionaries - We left Malawi in July ’07 after a 3 year term there….Maurice was principal of the Bible college there and I was doing both the mission finances/administration and directing the Child Care Plus Program.
In July we returned to Canada for our 6 months home assignment – where we traveled every single Sunday (with the exception of Christmas) for that entire 6 months – plus some all weekend events and some week day events. It was a good 6 months – but at the end we are always so ready to return to our beloved Africa!
We completed our term in Malawi but have now returned to Kenya…you may or may not remember but we spent 3 years prior to Malawi here in Kenya – Jordan Riley was born here – so coming back to Kenya is really coming home.
 Family info
There are 3 of us!!!! Jordan Riley turned 5 on January 1st 2008! He will be starting kindergarten in Mid-August at a wonderful international, American run, Christian school. He is more than anxious to begin – he went to pre-school in Malawi – Aug 2006 – July 2007 – so he had a terrific start and so misses all the interaction with the children and all the wonderful things that school has to offer. We are living right on campus in a single dwelling home.
Current ministry position
Maurice has a few different things that he will be involved with. His primary role here is to work with Helen McMinn in directing the TCL – Transformation Church Leadership program here. He’s already been out meeting with students and giving exams and he’s very excited about this whole program. It’s bringing formal training to those who are not able to attend the university for various reasons. It’s the vision of the university to take this program to Juba, Sudan and the Congo – this is very exciting. He will also begin teaching at PACU – Pan Africa Christian University starting next term – this term was already in session when we arrived. So there are exciting days ahead!! I will be giving some hours each week to the finance/administration office each week and my main role will be directing the Child Care Plus Program and it’s extended feeding programs.
Current happenings
I’m sure you have followed what has been happening in Kenya since the election in late December. Things have quieted down somewhat. Many people have been directly affected and lost their lives while thousands have been affected to various degrees. Our first week here we went with some of our American AOG friends to see just one of the many refugee camps…..it was horrid and the conditions were disgusting – at the time of our visit there were approximately 4000 people there but just a few nites previous there had been 8000+ in that same camp. As we were driving away, public transit buses were dropping more families and individuals - some with nothing and others with their entire possessions….waiting to get into the camp…. The country has gone thru so much – what we saw on the news headlines in Canada cannot even begin to describe what the real story is. We pray that there will be no further uprisings and cause even greater devestation for the Kenyan people.
Prayer requests
Pray for the nation of Kenya – it’s leader(s). Pray for those who are still displaced with no where to call home – pray for miracles in their lives of God’s unfailing provision.
Pray for our ministry here in Kenya – that God will use us as instruments in building His kingdom.
Pray for our safety – Crime is high and continues to rise. Pray for our safety on the roads – each time we make it to our place of destination we are thankful – the roads and traffic are unbelievable.
Pray for our safety right now as they are replacing the metal sheeting wall with a brand new brick/stone wall – this is only a few feet from 3 of our houses and so we are very vulnerable to thieves right now. The wall is going up quickly but will be another few weeks before completion.
Pray for Jordan’s schooling journey – he is once again going into many unknowns and having to make new friends and begin building new friendships. Recently we were going on a little walk around campus this is what he said to me– “Mama, now we live in Kenya for the rest of our lives and we don’t have to fly on any more airplanes, except when we go to the retreat!!” It sums it all up - I want a home – I want my friends and I don’t want to travel anymore”!!!! We laughed and then I reassured him that yes, we are indeed home!!! Children of all ages want to feel secure and settled!
Praise reports
We are so thankful to God for keeping us safe as we traveled hundreds and hundreds of kilometres during our six month home assignment in Canada…and a safe return to Kenya. In just one and ½ weeks we were able to have our personal belongings shipped from Malawi here to Kenya…customs cleared everything quickly and now we have everything! That was such a blessing!
As I mentioned earlier, this is our 8th year into our missionary journey ~ we cannot help but praise HIM for providing everything that we have “needed” during this time. There have been many very challenging times but the faithfulness of God has always remained firm and steadfast! We serve a BIG God!
Other info
Thank you for taking the time to invest in our lives and the ministry that God has entrusted to us. We truly and honestly need you. We could never do this alone – of course without God’s calling first and foremost and then without “His” family supporting us – in every way. We don’t want to just serve Him but we want to serve Him “WELL”. We are just regular people – regular family – just like you folks – we have needs, we struggle, we experience disappointment, we have joyful times, we delight in victories and yet at the end of the day – we are simply who God created with all our weaknesses and failures and our vast need for Him. So when you pray – pray for us in that lite!!
Your Missionaries
Maurice, Maureen & Jordan Riley
|