We hope you enjoyed reading Part 1 of our Praise Reports from Africa! We recently sent out our latest Love Letter and we have heard back from some of the pastors about how their lives were changed which is exciting! Part 2 shares the highlights of the Fatherheart A School in Nakuru, Kenya and our time of ministry to the street boys in Kitwe, Zambia. Our hearts and eyes tear up as we recall the boys in Kitwe just wanting to be loved! Part 2 can’t fully tell you how much Father did in each heart and life, but we want to thank you again for praying!
Praise Reports from the various places we ministered
Nakuru, Kenya
• We were thankful for 4 days to rest before the Fatherheart A School started at Word Ablaze Bible Institute where the A School took place. One of those days we spent with Nickson, Samson, our interpreters when we were there 6-1/2 years ago, and their families. It was exciting to see how much Father has done in their hearts and marriages as they shared their testimonies during the A School!
• Although their bus was delayed, the leaders of the Fatherheart A School, Ingrid, Maggie, and Philip, arrived safely Saturday evening from Uganda! It was exciting to have the majority of the team be Africans! His love is flowing more and more! Even though some of the pastors didn’t arrive until Monday, we did end up with 49 pastors/leaders with wide open hearts ready to receive!
• We saw Father touch, comfort and impact the pastors’ hearts as they began to see themselves as His sons/daughters and no longer orphans or servants!
• During Friday’s 1 1/2 hour testimony time there were many touching stories shared about what took place over the week. Here are just a few of them:
• Two men from NW Kenya walked for two days. They both were deeply touched by His love and one wept on Sue’s shoulder as he received a Father’s embrace! They arrived with no money, but Father provided the money for them to get home too!
• A pastor from Nairobi had come to the School to get material to finish his book on Spiritual Sonship, but he was disappointed and ready to leave the first day! After a time of soaking however, he began to rest receiving Father’s love. He slept soundly each night all week, which he hadn’t done in years! By resting and opening his heart, he experienced being loved by Father in a new way!
• Another pastor, David, realized it is all about our heart and God being our True Father!
• When Marsha was invited to come to the week, she came giving God one last chance to prove He was real to her. She experienced Father’s love and was excited about what He has for her next!
• Several others shared about receiving His comforting love and pain being removed from their hearts. As a result, we saw many smiles and their faces were brighter. They also said that they felt lighter!
• Sharing at Nickson and Samson’s church Sunday morning was exciting and the people received our message. A new member from Tanzania testified that she now knows it is all about our heart, not our heads experiencing His love!
• At the Mayfield Guest House in Nairobi before flying to Zambia we had dinner with 3 other men. Rick shared part of his testimony which impacted a man named Paul who asked if we could talk more. We were able to encourage and pray for him. He wrote us an email that night saying how much we had touched his heart. PTL!
Kitwe, Zambia
• We spent three nights with our friends, Chris and Amy, who are a part of Abba’s Heart ministry reaching out to the street children. Each morning we helped children at the Learning Center learn some basic math and reading skills. We led the Bible hour sharing the parables from Luke 15. We were able to love on them and we gave each of them a small red wooden heart that said LOVE on one side and LOVED on the other – God is Love and they are loved by the God who is love. The last day they prayed for us (which touched our hearts!) as well as us praying for them!
• Wednesday they took us to the downtown market to a place known as the “dust spot” where some of the older girls (young women) and boys hang out. After talking to them for a while, Sue had the opportunity to pray for some of the girls. It was a special time with one girl being instantly healed and two girls received His comforting love in the loss of one of their parents. They all let Sue give them a hug! Rick also got to pray with a few of the boys/men!
• They also took us to the residential home where 12 boys who were on the streets now live. They are all in school and several shared their dreams and what they see in their futures! During their Bible study, Rick shared on their True Identity, broke off the wrong words or labels in their hearts and affirmed their real identity, Father’s sons. Most wanted to have their pictures taken with the sashes and crowns! We also ate dinner with them and they were full of questions about God’s word.
• Thursday Sue shared with the 2 girls living at the residential girl’s home who also used to be on the streets. After sharing with them being His Masterpieces, she prayed for them.
• Later in the afternoon, we shared with their staff and the missionary team for 2 hours on joy, belonging, quieting and more.
• Friday evening the Abba’s Heart team talks and loves on the street children in downtown Kitwe. We were able to give out more red “Love” hearts and share the message. Rick gave a hug to one boy and suddenly he had a line of others who wanted a hug too! As we sat loving on a little 7-year old boy between us, we realized how much they need and want to be loved! It was a life changing experience for us!
