Thanks for your prayers. January and February were very fruitful months. Three wonderful groups of volunteers came to work with us in Nairobi, Kenya and Kampala, Uganda and the Lord blessed. The Gospel was shared, people were provide with food, Mama Kits were given to expectant Moms in the slums and many women were taught how to make reusable sanitary pads. The Spirit of the Lord was very present. More than 2100 prayed to receive Christ as their Lord and Savior through the work of the volunteers, house churches were started, Bible Way books were given to new disciples of Jesus and seeds were planted for the gospel to spread to more slums and counties. 2020 begin in a wonderful way.
Then the Corona virus hit and in just a matter of days all of our lives changed. You have prayed for IMFC and been a part of our lives and work for the Lord in Africa, now I want you to know that I have asked the men and women of the IMFC team in Uganda and Africa to pray for you and your family as we face the battle with the Corona virus here in the US. They are.
Some have asked me through email and text how this Corona virus outbreak is impacting the people of Uganda and Kenya and how it is affecting IMFC’s work. Here are a few excerpts of email and messages I get from some of the guys there. I think this will give you a picture of life among the people of Africa during the corona virus outbreak.
Vincent, IMFC Team Leader, Kampala
Hello Mzeei, hope you are good. This side the number of patients with Corona has increased from 1 to 9. We do not know how far it will go but the news we have heard is that those patient are now improving. Their temperature is normalizing, so there is so much hope. Today they got one person in the area where we are working. He was hiding because he had escaped from quarantine in Entebbe but the authorities came and took him and his family for the test. Some people who live in the slums have moved back to the village for fear. Things are not easy but we are praying that the virus will stop from spreading.
For Manna Ministry, we are no longer meeting the way we used to. Everything has changed. We are meeting 2 by 2 and sometimes 1 by 1. We are keeping a distance of 4 meters apart as the authorities have guided us. The time they stopped people from meeting in groups we had already given the Manna food out. We are planning next month to meet 2 or 3 families and after they have gone we let another group of 3 come and take their food. I know the first food drop will give us a picture and then we can work out more details with LC’s and Authorities to make sure everything goes well.
For the Mama kits we are giving out, we are meeting 2 or 3 people and some time meeting individuals. We are encouraging them and praying with them.
About sanitary pad workshops, we had one planned for last Saturday but we feared it would involve more than 5 people and canceled. We are still thinking how to do it in the way that it may not hurt authorities. Its a bit challenging, but it's teaching us a better way to handle some issues in times like this one. We survived Ebola; we shall overcome this one too.
Xavier, IMFC Team Leader, Nairobi
Here in Nairobi we continue to trust the LORD. As of yesterday we were marked as one of the highest risk places in Kenya along with Mombasa, Kilifi and Kwale. This is a result of the lack of discipline here in Nairobi. People have not followed the government’s directive to stay at home. On the other hand, speaking out of experience for most of our people in the slums, they survive from hand to mouth meaning they can't afford to stock-up any food for their families, hence they have to get out and try to find work to buy food and pay rent. In fact, I have heard some people say they would rather die from CORONA instead of hunger. That’s how bad the situation is. So as I write to you now, we have had many requests from our members who have tried to maintain the quarantine seeking food support and rent desperately, but as you know our hands are tied. So we are requesting our prayer team out there to go on their knees for these beloved ones, as we are also doing the same. Pray that the LORD may intervene according to His will and power to help His people.
Geofrey, IMFC Team Leader, Kenya
On behalf of our organization, I have received a number of phone calls from our IMFC fraternity countrywide crying for immediate help to enable them purchase food, water and medication since the government gave a directive of staying at home for 15 to 30 days. As you well know Papa Jimmy out of the experience you have witnessed while in Africa, most of our people in Kenya and those helping us (IMFC) with our mission activities are jobless and a few earns their living from casual jobs and others own few small business enterprises like selling tomatoes, local eggs, second hand clothes which most are imported from China, charcoal seller and many other just to mention a few.
Here, are some of the requests among many coming from our two active brothers whom you a familiar with. The first one is brother Stephen Okoth Okelo nicknamed as "Mr. Cartoon". Brother Stephen is leading our missionary work at a place known as Mishegwe at Kangemi slum areas. He is a father of three children, married to one wife and taking care of his mother and three young siblings. He has been jobless for a while though surviving on casual jobs at constructing sites such as sand manual mixers and brick carriers. Since the directive to stay at home, most construction companies closed their sites and it has been so difficult for him to put food on the table for his family. He is also much worried of house rent for next month because already he has unpaid balance for this month of March.
The second request comes from Brother Julius Owino, who is leading our work at Line-Saba in Kibera slums. Brother Julius is a private teacher who is paid based on the number of days he is at work.Since the directive was also given by the government, he is much worried of house rent, food for his family and medication bills. As you know, life in slums entails many poor hygienic conditions. Brother Julius has eight people he is taking care of in his households and currently he has shortage of food, water and medical bills.
These two brothers, reflects the current situation here in Kenya and the number of phone call requests I am receiving on a daily basis countrywide on behalf of IMFC - Kenya.
I am praying for you and your family. Stay as safe as you can. Keep trusting the Lord and live His life. Life has changed but the Lord's mission has not. There are many opportunities in the middle of confusion, fear and problems. Seize the day.
Jimmy